NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what regulations his Department introduced between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011; and what the estimated costs of implementation were for those affected in each case;
	(2)  what the name is of each regulatory measure revoked by his Department between 1 March and 31 May 2011; and what estimate he has made of the potential annual saving to those affected by each revocation.

Owen Paterson: My Department introduced no regulations in the period 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011 My Department has not repealed any regulations during this period.

EU Law

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010.

Owen Paterson: None.

WALES

NHS

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with the First Minister of the Welsh Government on the effects of the proposed changes to the NHS in England on (a) the NHS in Wales and (b) cross-border provision of health services; and if she will make a statement.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have discussed the Health and Social Care Bill with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Health. The Wales Office and the Department of Health will continue to work closely with the Welsh Government on the provisions in the Bill impacting on the NHS in Wales. In agreement with the Welsh Government, the coalition Government have renewed the existing Cross Border health services protocol for a further year until 31 March 2012. This will allow time for the structure of the new commissioning arrangements in England to emerge more clearly before more detailed consideration is given to cross border provision of services.

PRIME MINISTER

Joint Ministerial Committee

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) issues were discussed and (b) agreements were reached at the Joint Ministerial Committee held in London on 8 June 2011.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the communiqué which was released following the Joint Ministerial Committee meeting on Wednesday 8 June 2011. This is available on the No. 10 website at:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2011/06/joint-ministerial-committee-communique-64530

Members: Correspondence

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the response from the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council to the letter from himself and others of 18 March 2011, entitled Getting Europe Growing; and what reports he has received on the steps taken by the Commission in consequence.

David Cameron: In response to the "Getting Europe Growing" letter of 18 March, I received a supportive letter from the European Council President. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
	Following the letter of 18 March, the European Council of 24-25 March agreed on the importance of prioritising growth. Its conclusions agreed on the need for robust action at the European Union level to stimulate growth by: strengthening the single market, with an emphasis on services and the digital economy; reducing the overall burden of regulation; and promoting free, fair and open trade with countries outside the EU. Since then, the Commission has brought forward a number of initiatives in the areas we identified as priorities for EU growth. The Government continue to work closely with the Commission and other member states to make progress on this agenda.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Prime Minister if he will give an assessment of the work of the Northern Ireland Assembly following his recent visit and speech in the Assembly chamber.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the speech I gave to the Northern Ireland Assembly on Thursday 9 June 2011. A copy of the speech can be found on the No. 10 website at:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-transcripts/2011/06/address-to-northern-ireland-assembly-64604

Royal Irish Regiment: Parades

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Prime Minister how many representations he has received on the decision by the Ministry of Defence not to permit a homecoming parade for the Royal Irish Regiment in Belfast.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 April 2011, Official Report, columns 174-75.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on the limitation of information which public authorities are required to disclose about animal experiments; and what her policy is on the introduction of any such limitation.

Lynne Featherstone: A significant amount of information is already published about the use of animals in scientific procedures in publications such as the ‘Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain’ published annually, on the Home Office website and in scientific papers published by those carrying out the research.
	Where relevant, decisions on requests for disclosure of other information are made taking account of the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In addition, under section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, Home Office Ministers and officials are prohibited from disclosing confidential information relating to the use of animals in scientific procedures other than in the discharge of their functions under the 1986 Act.
	Section 24 creates a criminal offence and provides a maximum punishment of two years imprisonment and a fine for unauthorised disclosure of information.
	I have received no representations about the application of the Freedom of Information Act to requests for information about animal experiments. Since June 2010 I have received 35 letters from individuals and organisations relating to section 24, the majority seeking its repeal.
	As part of a public consultation on the options for transposition of European directive 2010/63/EU, launched on 13 June 2011, I am seeking views on how section 24 might be amended to provide flexibility in responding to requests for information while continuing to protect proprietary rights and confidential information.

Animal Experiments

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to paragraph 4 of page 18 of the coalition agreement, what steps the Government has taken to reduce the use of animals in scientific research.

Lynne Featherstone: We are currently developing a strategy to deliver the coalition commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific procedures and will announce our plans in due course. We will be looking for genuine reductions which improve animal welfare and will avoid measures which simply drive work abroad to countries where lower standards or less stringent testing guidelines may apply.

Animal Experiments

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research the Government has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the use of beagles in scientific research.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government have not commissioned specific research on the use of beagles in scientific research. Evaluation of the use of beagles in scientific research is undertaken on a case by case basis. In order to be licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, a project must be for one of the “permissible purposes” listed in section 5(3) of the Act. These include: the prevention (whether by the testing of any product or otherwise) or the diagnosis or treatment of disease, ill-health or abnormality, or their effects, in man, animals or plants; the assessment, detection, regulation or modification of physiological conditions in man, animals or plants; and the advancement of knowledge in biological or behavioural sciences. All research using beagles would have had to satisfy one or more of these requirements.
	Under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 dogs, together with some other species, are given special protection and can only be used where animals of no other species are suitable.

Animal Experiments

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has (a) received and (b) reviewed any evidence in support of an increase in the breeding of beagles for experimental purposes.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government have not received or reviewed any evidence in support of an increase in the breeding of beagles for experimental purposes.

Asylum: Expenditure

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual cost to the public purse was of (a) the Asylum Support System and (b) her Department's administration costs associated with asylum in each year since 1997-98.

Damian Green: holding answer 17 June 2011
	The annual costs to the public purse for the Asylum Support System since 1999-2000 are given in Annex A. Figures for 1997-98 and 1998-99 are not available as the UK Border Agency was not responsible for meeting these costs prior to 1999-2000.
	It is not possible to provide the cost of administration of the system without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Annex A:   Historic asylum costs 
			 £ million 
			 Support c  osts 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008  -09 200  9  -10 2010-11 
			 Initial Accommodation(1) — — — 107 96 67 37 31 26 19 15 9 
			 Dispersed Accommodation(1) — 115 439 319 344 315 183 155 181 128 123 100 
		
	
	
		
			 Cash Support(1) — — — 160 143 129 103 100 99 69 68 56 
			 Asylum Seeker Travel Costs(1) — — — 6 6 4 4 3 5 6 4 4 
			 Local Authorities(1) 537 497 407 296 242 138 69 4 1 — — — 
			 DSS/DWP(1) — 56 89 36 15 — — — — — — — 
			 S4 Costs(2) — — — — 4 17 59 71 73 91 102 56 
			 UASC(3) — 82 111 143 161 117 151 144 85 142 151 115 
			 Leaving Care(3) — — — — — — — — — 31 11 20 
			 Sub-total Support Costs 537 750 1,046 1,067 1,011 787 606 508 470 486 474 359 
			 Grants and Other Special Projects(4) — 23 17 25 24 37 20 16 15 33 40 42 
			 Total Asylum Payments(5) 537 773 1,063 1,092 1,035 824 626 624 485 519 514 402 
			 (1) Pre 2000 Payments were made to DSS/DWP for asylum seekers in receipt of support. Post 2000 new applicants were supported directly by UKBA. (2) Support to failed asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute end who, face a legitimate barrier to return, can not travel because of a medical condition, or who are judicially reviewing the decision not to grant asylum (ECHR, case law). Also includes support to those who are taking steps to leave and who would otherwise be destitute, but who would not otherwise qualify for support. (3) Unaccompanied asylum seeking children, are the responsibility of the local authority in whose geographical area they seek help. However, UKBA provides a grant to assist LA's meet the costs of supporting UASC's together with a grant to assist local authorities to meet the costs of supporting previous UASC who turn 18 and are leaving care. (4) Grants to voluntary sector organisations to support asylum seekers through the application and dispersal. From 2009-10 grants also include Gateway grants to DWP (and some voluntary organisations) for targeted refugee programmes and Integration services provided by voluntary sector to support integration of those granted leave to remain in UK. (5) All figures based on audited accounts. Figures for 2010-11 are unaudited and subject to change.

Criminal Records: Voluntary Work

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects on voluntary sector organisations of the voluntary disclosure of Criminal Records Bureau checks.

Lynne Featherstone: There are no mandatory requirements for people working with vulnerable groups on behalf of a voluntary organisation to obtain a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) certificate. Volunteers who regularly work with children or vulnerable adults are eligible for an enhanced CRB certificate but it is the volunteer manager's decision whether to request a check, after they have carried out a risk assessment for the role. The Government recognises the important contribution volunteers make to society and CRB checks for volunteers are issued free of charge.

Identity and Passport Service: Aberdeen

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has considered the merits of putting in place additional passport interview services in Aberdeen before the summer holiday period.

Damian Green: The interview office in Aberdeen formally closed to the public on 11 June 2011. In future, customers in the Aberdeen area will be able to access interviews in Edinburgh, Dundee and Inverness.
	There is a full-time interview office in Edinburgh and there will be flexible teams operating at Dundee and Inverness for two or three days per week from late July. The interview offices at Dundee and Inverness will remain open to the public until 23 July.
	While we recognise that this will mean additional journey times and expense for some customers, only 5% of passport applicants are required to attend an interview and this is a once in a lifetime event. The changes IPS is making are to remove excess capacity from the business.

Incentives

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether bonus payments are made to UK Border Agency staff for performance in respect of cash recovery cases undertaken under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Damian Green: Bonus payments in the UK Border Agency (UKBA) are dependent on staff exceeding performance expectations.
	Performance awards are not made to UKBA staff specifically for performance in relation to cash recovery cases undertaken under the provisions of the proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2002.
	Assessment of performance is typically based on a number of the following criteria:
	assessment of objectives—what was delivered and how;
	assessment of the skills required for the role;
	overall assessment of achievement against the job description, reflecting the level of performance over the whole appraisal year;
	innovation—actions or good ideas which improve efficiency or service delivery.

Overseas Workers

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues on the consultation document on Employment Related Settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers.

Damian Green: The content of the consultation document was agreed collectively by interested Ministers prior to publication. The UK Border Agency continues to discuss the proposals with other Government Departments.

Police: Bureaucracy

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had on proposals to provide greater powers to policy community support officers; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: The Government recognise and value the role that police community support officers (PCSOs) play in neighbourhood policing and have committed to supporting neighbourhood policing teams and PCSOs through the dedicated neighbourhood policing fund until 2012-13. After this, it will be for the directly elected police and crime commissioners, together with their chief constables, to determine local staff resourcing and allocation.
	PCSOs have 20 standard powers and a range of discretionary additional powers which may be granted by the local chief constable should he or she believe that they are required. There are no current plans to extend these powers.

Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of contracts issued by (a) her Department and (b) agencies for which she is responsible were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in (i) Scotland, (ii) South Lanarkshire and (iii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The Home Department awarded two contracts to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland in 2006 and 2008, neither of which were in South Lanarkshire or Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency. Both of these contracts expired in 2009.
	In recognition of the important contribution all small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make to the economy, the Home Department has published its plans to meet the Government's commitment to allow SMEs to compete more fairly for governmental contracts on its commercial website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/procurement/
	The Department is continuing with further work to evaluate its procurement activity to establish areas of goods and services which can be delivered by SMEs. This evaluation will inform our procurement approach and ensure we maximise opportunities for such enterprises.

Sexual Offences: Registration

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the number of non-registered sex offenders.

Lynne Featherstone: The data are not collected in the format requested and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Stalking: Crime Prevention

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward legislative proposals to give police in England and Wales additional powers to seize electronic evidence from individuals being investigated for stalking or harassment.

Lynne Featherstone: We are working with the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to review the impact of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. We are also working with the police and others to examine the need for additional police powers to enable them to investigate these offences effectively.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities 
	(1)  what the name is of each regulatory measure revoked by the Government Equalities Office between 1 March and 31 May 2011; and what estimate she has made of the potential annual saving to those affected by each revocation;
	(2)  what regulations the Government Equalities office introduced between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011; and what the estimated costs of implementation were for those affected in each case.

Lynne Featherstone: This Government are committed to reducing regulatory burdens. Between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011 the Government Equalities Office repealed the three separate public sector equality duties on race, disability and gender and supporting regulations imposing specific duties for each, with different timescales and reporting requirements. On 5 April 2011 the Government brought into force the new single Equality Duty contained in the Equality Act 2010. This brought together the previous equality duties and extended to cover age, gender reassignment in full, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
	On 6 April the Government Equalities Office brought into force the positive action provisions contained in section 159 of the Equality Act 2010. These measures are voluntary and do not impose any regulatory burden.
	The following table provides information on the legislation and codes of practice repealed and introduced between 1 March and 31 May 2011.
	We estimate replacing the three previous public sector equality duties with the new Equality Duty and the underlying specific duties (which will be laid before Parliament shortly) will result in a net benefit to the public sector of between £4 million and £18 million (mid-point estimate £11 million) in year one, and a net benefit of between £14 million and £25 million (mid-point estimate £19 million) from year two onwards compared to the cost of complying with the three separate duties. Over a 10-year period the net benefit is expected to be in the region of around £110 million to £205 million (net present value terms) compared to the cost of the previous duties.
	There are no implementation costs relating to the positive action measures as these are voluntary.
	
		
			 Primary legislation repealed between   1   March 2011 and 31 May 2011  
			 Regulation Repealed 
			 sections 76A to 76C of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (and section 81 of that Act so far as relating to those sections); 5 April 2011 
			 sections 71 to 71B of, and Schedule 1A to, the Race Relations Act 1976 5 April 2011 
			 sections 17(9), 18 and 19(10) of the Local Government Act 1988 5 April 2011 
			 sections 49A to 49D of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 5 April 2011 
			 section 404 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 5 April 2011 
			 sections 84 and 85 of the Equality Act 2006 5 April 2011 
			   
			 As a result of the above sections being repealed the following measures in subordinate legislation were revoked:  
			 the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) Order 2006 (SI 2006/2930) 5 April 2011 
			 the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) (Scotland) Order 2007 (SSI 2007/32) 5 April 2011 
			 the Race Relations Act 1976 (General Statutory Duty) Order 2001 (SI 2001/3457) 5 April 2011 
			 the Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) Order 2001 (SI 2001/3458) 5 April 2011 
			 the Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) (Scotland) Order 2002 (SSI 2002/62) 5 April 2011 
			 the Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) Order 2003 (SI 2003/3006) 5 April 2011 
			 the Race Relations Act 1976 (General Statutory Duty) Order 2003 (SI 2003/3007) 5 April 2011 
			 the Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) Order 2004 (SI 2004/3125) 5 April 2011 
			 the Race Relations Act 1976 (General Statutory Duty) Order 2004 (SI 2004/3127) 5 April 2011 
			 the Race Relations Act 1976 (General Statutory Duty) Order 2006 (SI 2006/2470) 5 April 2011 
			 the Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) Order 2006 (SI 2006/2471) 5 April 2011 
			 the Disability Discrimination (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/2966) 5 April 2011 
			 the Disability Discrimination (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (SSI 2005/565) 5 April 2011 
			 the Disability Discrimination (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/618) 5 April 2011 
			 the Disability Discrimination (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/641) 5 April 2011 
		
	
	
		
			 Regulatory measures introduced between   1   March 2011 and 31 May 2011  
			 Regulation Introduced 
			 section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 5 April 2011 
			 section 159 of the Equality Act 2010—positive action provisions relating to recruitment and promotion 6 April 2011 
		
	
	
		
			 Codes of practice repealed between   1   March 2011 and 31 May 2011 
			 Code of practice Repealed 
			 the 1985 code of practice for the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sex and marriage and the promotion of equality of opportunity in employment 6 April 2011 
			 the 2003 Code of Practice on Equal Pay 6 April 2011 
			 the 2004 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Code of Practice on Employment and Occupation 6 April 2011 
			 the 2006 revised Code of Practice on Racial Equality in Employment 6 April 2011 
			 the 2006 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Code of Practice on Rights of Access: services to the public, public authority functions, private clubs and premises 6 April 2011 
		
	
	
		
			 Codes of practice introduced between   1   March 2011 and 31 May 2011 
			 Code of practice Introduced 
			 the Equality Act 2010 Code of Practice Services Public Functions and Associations 6 April 2011 
			 the Equality Act 2010 Code of Practice on Employment 6 April 2011 
			 the Equality Act 2010 Code of Practice Equal Pay 6 April 2011

Equalities and Human Rights Commission

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent assessment she has made of the effects of the proposed closures of regional offices of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

Lynne Featherstone: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is an arm's length body. As an arm's length body, decisions on the closure of any of its office premises are operational ones which it is for the Commission to make.

Government Equalities Office: Manpower

Dominic Raab: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many staff (a) the Government Equalities Office and (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission employ.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 15 June 2011
	The figures requested are as follows:
	(a) The total number of staff employed by Government Equalities Office as at 1 June 2011 was 108.2 full-time equivalents (FTE).
	(b) The total number of staff employed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission as at 13 June 2011 was 408 FTE.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will estimate the effects of the ending of tax relief on VAT for organ repairs on levels of expenditure from the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme in (a) 2010-11 and (b) each of the next four years.

John Penrose: The effect of removing eligibility of organ repairs, bells, clocks and pews from the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will be to return it to its original scope before it was widened to include these items in 2006. We estimate that the overall effect on money claimed under the scheme will be to reduce it closer to the available budget of £12 million. We have not made an individual estimate of the specific impact on organ repairs, but it is worth noting that they took place continuously and successfully before being included in the scheme in 2006, so we do not expect a serious permanent reduction.

Local Broadcasting

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the BBC Trust on the maintenance of BBC provision of local television and radio.

Edward Vaizey: There have been no recent discussions with the BBC Trust on the maintenance of the BBC's existing provision of local television and radio.

Olympic Games 2012

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans his Department has for the future of the Olympic legacy in all parts of the UK after 2012.

Hugh Robertson: The Government published their plans for the legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in December 2010 focusing on four key areas:
	Harnessing the United Kingdom's passion for sport to increase grass roots participation, particularly by young people—and to encourage the whole population to be more physically active;
	Exploiting to the full opportunities for economic growth offered by hosting the Games;
	Promoting community engagement and achieving participation across all groups in society through the Games; and
	Ensuring that the Olympic Park can be developed after the Games as one of the principle drivers of regeneration in east London.
	This plan was produced by the UK Government. However the Games' legacy is being driven across the UK by a rich variety of organisations, communities and individuals. These include the Nations and Regions Group established by the Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to ensure UK-wide engagement and to make the most of the opportunities London 2012 brings now, and to maximise the potential benefits that will be realised locally post Games. This group works directly with representatives from each of the nations and English regions to realise the sporting, economic, and cultural benefits of the 2012 Games.

Olympic Games 2012

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the London 2012 Olympics on levels of participation in sport.

Hugh Robertson: No recent assessment has been made of the potential effect of London 2012 on levels of participation in sport. However, we will be measuring the number of young people taking part in competitive sport through the Taking Part Survey, and Sport England will continue to measure participation in community sport through the Active People Survey. Both ‘Places People Play’, the Government's sports legacy from London 2012, and the School Games will be evaluated to measure the impact.

Olympic Games 2012

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on including all parts of the UK in preparatory events for the London 2012 Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: The Nations and Regions Group, established by the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) and the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), works directly with each UK nation and region to help them realise and maximise the benefits from the economic, sporting and cultural opportunities offered by the games.
	One of the most significant events taking place before the beginning of the games is the Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympic Flame will travel to within an hour of 95% of people in the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey during the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay. On 18 May LOCOG announced the 66 evening celebrations and six of the island visits and will now proceed with the detailed planning of the route for the morning and afternoons of each day. This is being done in consultation with stakeholders across the UK in every region. The route will be finalised and announced later this year,
	LOCOG recently published a booklet on London 2012 which provides a summary of projects and events that have taken place across the UK. This can be found at the following link:
	http://www.london2012.com/publications/london-2012-across-the-uk.php
	In addition, the London 2012 cultural, educational and sporting projects the Inspire Programme, the Get Set Network and the School Games are inclusive of the whole of the UK.

Tourism

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to help regions increase the size of their tourist economy.

John Penrose: The Government's plans for promoting the growth of the visitor economy are set out in detail in the paper, “Government Tourism Policy” published in March 2011, and available at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7896.aspx
	Over the next four years VisitBritain will be running the “You're Invited” programme, which will capitalise on the international interest in the recent Royal Wedding, as well as next year's Diamond Jubilee and Olympic and Paralympic Games, and showcase Britain to the world. The programme aims to attract 4 million extra visitors, spending £2 billion in the UK economy, which will support businesses, jobs and growth. The programme is backed by a £100 million marketing fund, match funded by the public and private sectors.
	VisitEngland is working closely with local areas and destinations, in line with Government's localism agenda, to grow the value of local tourism economies. This is co-ordinated through the National Strategic Framework for Tourism, which includes an action programme developed in consultation with the tourism sector. VisitEngland is currently working with local areas on a campaign to deliver economic growth from the domestic market, and to support employment and job creation. “The time to be in England” will maximise the impact of the unique events of 2012, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, helping to spread the benefits of the games outside London and maintain a legacy of domestic tourism growth. The campaign is the subject of a bid to the second round of the Regional Growth Fund.
	Tourism policy seeks to help improve the sector's productivity and competitiveness, in particular to address the burden of regulation affecting the industry. The Government's Red Tape Challenge focused on the hospitality sector in May, inviting the industry and the public to identify regulations holding back the industry and stifling growth. Alongside this, the Government are setting up an industry task force, led by senior industry figures, to identify rules, regulations and inspections impeding the sector, and which might be cut, modified or abolished.

Tourism

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effects of the competitiveness of the UK tourism sector of the recent decision of the Irish Government to reduce the rate of value added tax on services related to tourism to 9%; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), speaks regularly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on a wide variety of topics. VAT rates in Ireland are a matter for the Irish Government rather than one on which we should comment, but customers choose their holidays on a wide variety of factors including the overall value for money of the various places they are considering visiting, rather than focusing solely on the rate of VAT. The Government's overall policy on tourism was made clear in the Government's Tourism Policy, which was published in March 2011.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations his Department introduced between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011; and what the estimated costs of implementation were for those affected in each case.

David Mundell: Between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011 the Scotland Office introduced the following regulations:
	The Scottish Parliament (Constituency Returning Officers) Order 2011;
	The Scottish Parliament (Regional Returning Officers) Order 2011;
	The Scottish Parliament (Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2011; and
	The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2011.
	There were no implementation costs for these orders.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the name is of each regulatory measure revoked by his Department between 1 March and 31 May 2011; and what estimate he has made of the potential annual saving to those affected by each revocation.

David Mundell: Between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011 the Scotland Office revoked the following regulations:
	The Scottish Parliament (Constituency Returning Officers) Order 2011;
	The Scottish Parliament (Regional Returning Officers) Order 2011; and
	The Scottish Parliament (Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2011.
	Due to the nature of these elections Orders there are no identifiable savings.

EU Law

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office was not responsible for any European directives in force on 1 April 2010, and is not responsible for any that have come into force since 1 April 2010.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Vacancies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the staff vacancy rate in her Department was in 2010-11; and what vacancy rate has been assumed in her Department's budget for 2011-12.

Richard Benyon: The vacancy rate in the Department between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 was 342.5 which is 3.5% of the total headcount of DEFRA and its executive agencies.
	For 2011-12, the Department manages its budget and resources by reviewing on a monthly and quarterly basis work force forecasts and financial targets to allow the Department to reallocate resources and funding in year to ensure we live within our means and meet our strategic objectives.

Motor Sports: Noise

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on noise nuisance issues relating to motocross sites.

Richard Benyon: I have not received any representations regarding noise nuisance relating to motocross sites. Any complaints regarding potential noise nuisance should be made to the relevant local authority. Under the Environment Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a duty to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to investigate any complaint of a statutory nuisance made by a person living within their areas. Where a local authority is satisfied of the existence, or of the likely occurrence or recurrence of a statutory nuisance, it must generally serve an abatement notice.

Recycling: Greater London

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to introduce greater co-ordination between waste authorities in London with regard to the recycling policies of their member authorities.

Richard Benyon: The Government have made clear that it is for individual local authorities to decide on the collection and recycling policies which are most suitable for their customers and fitting for their local circumstances. However, DEFRA supports the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), including its work with the London Community Resource Network, its recently established subsidiary London Reuse Limited, and London boroughs to look at developing shared collection, storage and distribution facilities that can be accessed by reuse projects across London. LWARB is also assessing the feasibility of developing a London-wide web portal that provides access to reuse and recycling options for both consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Rivers

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with water companies on (a) their statutory duties to the environment and (b) preserving river and stream flows during the summer months.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 16 June 2011
	DEFRA has a programme of work to restore sustainable abstraction where abstraction licences granted historically do not adequately protect the environment. Water companies are undertaking investigations as part of their environmental responsibilities where their abstractions may be involved.
	The Environment Agency sets conditions on abstraction licences to protect summer river and stream flows.
	The Natural Environment White Paper, which was published on 7 June, announced that we intend to develop measures to address unsustainable abstraction more efficiently, and therefore increase protection of river and stream flows in the summer months. We are currently developing these measures to be included in the Water White Paper, which is due to be published by December. As part of this, officials are in discussion with a number of stakeholders, including the water companies.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE

Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Adam Afriyie: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what evidence the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has received from IPSA to support the statement by the Authority that it saved the public purse £18 million in its first 10 months of operation.

Charles Walker: Paragraph 9 and Annex A of the Explanatory Note on the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's 2011-12 draft Estimate, submitted to the Committee by IPSA, state that IPSA have forecast an under-spend of around £30 million against their Estimate, which is about £18 million less than the final year of the previous House of Commons scheme.
	The Explanatory Note and other documents relating to the draft Estimate are available on the Committee's website at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/spcomipsa/writev/contents.htm

TRANSPORT

A1: East of England

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure the installation of separated junctions at the main intersections and roundabouts on the A1 between Alconbury and the A1(M) north of Baldock.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State announced on 26 October 2010 the Department's plans for funding road improvements on the strategic road network for the spending review period, to the end of 2014-15.
	Proposals for junction improvements on the A1 between Alconbury and the A1(M) north of Baldock have not been included among the schemes identified, and there are therefore no plans to develop such a proposal at this time.

Bicycles

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what responses his Department received to its consultation on electrically-assisted pedal cycles; and whether he plans to issue any regulations as a result of the consultation.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport received 79 responses to the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) consultation and the results have been analysed. Regulations pertaining to EAPC are also subject to the current ‘Red Tape Challenge’, and comments submitted as part of this initiative will also be considered before the Department publishes a statement on next steps.

Bus Services

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the minimum statutory requirement is for the provision of (a) evening and (b) Sunday bus services in local areas in England.

Norman Baker: There is no specific statutory requirement for the provision of evening and Sunday bus services in local areas of England.
	78% of local bus services are provided on a commercial basis by private operators and the routes and times that they run are a matter for the operator concerned.
	There is a duty in the Transport Act 1985:
	“to secure the provision of such public passenger transport services as the council considers it appropriate to secure to meet any public transport requirements within the county which would in their view not be met apart from any action taken by them for that purpose...”
	It is therefore a decision for local councils to decide what further services, if any, they should be providing.

Bus Services: Fees and Charges

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has powers to require bus companies which cancel routes and services to reduce the price of season tickets.

Norman Baker: In the deregulated bus market in England outside London, bus fares and routes are a matter for commercial operators of local services, not the Secretary of State. London fares and timetables are a matter for the Mayor. Non-commercial services supported by local transport authorities are a matter for them.
	The Department for Transport is considering possible remedies to address the Competition Commission's initial findings from its inquiry into the local bus market that bus fares, tickets and frequencies may be used to deter new entrants from engaging in competition with incumbent operators.
	In the meantime, local transport authorities currently have powers to introduce maximum fares under a Quality Partnership Scheme, but not to reduce fares.

Bus Services: Finance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many small and medium-sized bus operators have ceased to trade in 2011 to date.

Michael Penning: The number of surrendered licences in 2011 by PSV operators(1) is 98. Of these, 96 operators had held licences for 20 vehicles or less. The number of licences surrendered does not necessary mean operators who have ceased to trade as they may hold licences in other geographical areas.
	(1) PSV operators numbers will also include limousine operators, as well as hotel and taxi operators who require a licence to operate a mini-bus.

Bypasses: Lincoln

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress his Department has made on the proposal for the construction of a bypass in Lincoln.

Norman Baker: This scheme is currently in the Department for Transport's Development Pool of local major transport schemes. We have invited Lincolnshire county council to submit a “best and final funding bid” to the Department by 9 September. We aim to announce decisions in December this year on which schemes have been successful.

East Coast Railway Line: Contracts

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the (a) costs and (b) savings of the outsourcing to locations outside the UK of East Coast Main Line's (i) customer contact centre and associated services, (ii) telesales, (iii) group travel, (iv) assisted travel and business travel, (v) ticket fulfilment, (vi) web support and (vii) customer relations work.

Norman Baker: holding answer 10 June 2011
	The outsourcing of services is an operational matter for East Coast. The Department has had no involvement in these decisions.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many households (a) nationally, (b) in Warwickshire and (c) in North Warwickshire constituency have received assistance from the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme; and what the total monetary value is of compensation allocated in each case.

Philip Hammond: The information is as follows:
	(a) 38 applications have been accepted nationally. The total value of 34 of these properties, calculated by the sum of formal offers made to applicants, is £19,920,000. HS2 Ltd is currently awaiting valuations on the other four properties that have been accepted.
	(b) 11 applications have been accepted from Warwickshire. The total value of nine of these properties, calculated by the sum of formal offers made to applicants, is £5,152,500. HS2 Ltd is currently awaiting valuations on the other two properties that have been accepted in Warwickshire.
	(c) Two applications have been accepted from North Warwickshire constituency. One property has been purchased and the other is currently awaiting valuation. I am not able to release the value of the purchased property as this relates to a single application, and constitutes personal data as part of that application which could potentially identify the owner as an EHS applicant. When more than one valuation is available in this area I will be content to provide the sum total.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many agricultural units and commercial properties with a rateable value not exceeding £34,800 have applied for compensation under the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: Applications to the Exceptional Hardship Scheme have been received from:
	1 agricultural unit
	3 combined residential/agricultural units
	3 combined residential/commercial properties with a rateable value not exceeding £34,800.

Invalid Vehicles: Regulation

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the results of his Department's consultation on proposed changes to legislation governing powered mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.

Norman Baker: holding answer 13 June 2011
	The findings from the consultation are currently being considered. I will be making an announcement as soon as practicable.

Motor Vehicles: Sales

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of used car sales in each year since 2005.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport estimates that there were 7.65 million transfers of used cars during 2010.
	Some of these transfers will not have been through a sale of the vehicle. The transfer may be as a result of a gift, inheritance or trader registering the car to their business after holding it for longer than three months. Information about what type of transfer took place is not held on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) database.
	The estimate for 2010 was based on the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which enables changes in the ownership of a vehicle to be tracked over time. A less accurate method was used to produce a broad estimate for 2009, of 6.44 million transfers, based on matching the registration marks of vehicles. Estimates have not been produced for years prior to 2009, and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of widening the A1(M) between Welwyn and Stevenage; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State for Transport announced on 26 October 2010 the Department's plans for funding improvements on the strategic road network for the spending review period, to the end of 2014-15. The Department will continue to work on 18 schemes for potential construction in future spending review periods.
	Widening of the A1(M) between Welwyn and Stevenage was not among the schemes identified, and the Department therefore has no plans to examine such a proposal at this time.

Roads: Tolls

Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has plans to promote the construction of further toll roads.

Michael Penning: We are happy to consider proposals for the construction of new roads funded by tolls.
	However, we have not received any such proposals, and are not bringing forward any tolled schemes at present.

Rolling Stock

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average cost of operating (a) hybrid and (b) electric trains over electrified tracks;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average cost of operation and maintenance of (a) a hybrid and (b) an electric train.

Theresa Villiers: In the recent appraisal of the Intercity Express Programme, the average cost per mile of maintenance and operations of a bi-mode and electric set were assumed to be as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Maintenance Fuel Variable trac  k access charge 
			 Bi-mode    
			 When under diesel power 2.74 1.72 1.13 
			 When under electric power 1.78 1.34 (1)— 
			     
			 Electric 1.78 1.32 1.03 
			 (1) Indicates brace. 
		
	
	The costs in the table are based on five-car short sets, and are given at 2009-10 prices.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

BRIC Countries

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 202W, on the BRIC summit, if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department's documents relevant to the Emerging Powers Initiative.

William Hague: The Emerging Powers Sub-Committee of the National Security Council, which I chair, oversees the Government's collective effort towards elevating our relations with the emerging powers. Papers prepared for the Sub-Committee are confidential.

Diplomatic Service: Internet

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 206W, on the Diplomatic Service: internet, how many online followers his Department has of each nationality.

William Hague: It is the social media platforms the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) uses and not FCO itself which hold information user data. We therefore cannot tell nationality of users, and we cannot make assumptions about their nationality from the geographical location. Full lists of the major social media presences of embassies and posts around the world can be found on:
	www.FCO.gov.uk
	As set out in my answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 206W, we have over 300,000 followers in total.

Diplomatic Service: Internet

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 206W, on the Diplomatic Service: internet, in which countries those embassies and missions which blog in local languages are located.

William Hague: There are currently 56 active bloggers on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) roster, blogging on the FCO website. This figure is liable to constant change as staff move roles within the Department. There are 35 embassies and posts with a blog, and there are blogs currently ‘live’ on the FCO site in seven different languages: Arabic, Romanian, Ukrainian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean and Japanese. A full list of the blogs hosted on the FCO's platform can, again, be found on the FCO website.

Egypt: Politics and Government

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the status of (a) secular political parties and (b) the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Alistair Burt: A new law on the registration of political parties was passed on 28 March. In addition to the existing opposition parties, the Al Wasat Party, the Muslim Brotherhood's new Freedom and Justice Party and another called the Nour party have officially been registered. A number of other new political parties continue to await authorisation of their official registration.
	The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) have pressed the Egyptian authorities to ensure an open and plural election process.

Libya: Diplomatic Relations

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government maintains diplomatic relations with the government of Libya.

Alistair Burt: We maintain diplomatic relations with the Libyan Government. The Libyan People's Bureau (LPB) in London remains open and has been headed by a Charge d'Affaires following the expulsion of the Libyan ambassador on 30 April. We have used these links to make clear to the regime that it must comply in full with UN Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973, desist from further violence and withdraw military forces to barracks. We have made it clear to the regime that Qadhafi must go. We also use our contacts with the LPB to address issues concerning Libyan citizens resident in the UK. Apart from this we have kept our contacts with the LPB to the very minimum.

Libya: Freezing Orders

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the international community is taking to deprive the Gaddafi government in Libya of access to funds.

William Hague: The UK has taken the lead in international efforts to impose and implement financial sanctions on the Qadhafi regime. We and our EU partners have implemented the sanctions elements of UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 through EU Regulations 204, 233, 272, 288, 296 and 360, which have steadily extended and updated the range of regime-linked individuals and entities subject to asset freezes. On 11 March 2011 the UN also established a Sanctions Committee to monitor the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1970, chaired by Portugal. We are offering guidance and support to the Sanctions Committee. The targeted sanctions imposed under these UN Resolutions have squeezed the regime financially, making it harder for Colonel Qadhafi and his associates to fuel the war further.

Libya: Overseas Students

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the effects of sanctions on Libya on Libyan students who are studying in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: holding answer 15 June 2011
	I have not received any representations on the effects of sanctions on Libya on Libyan students who are studying in the UK although Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have been made aware of some delays in student payments.
	The UN sanctions do not prevent Libyan state-sponsored students from receiving payments. These payments are administered by the Libyan People's Bureau in London. Where the necessary funds are in place but additional authorisation is required because of the sanctions, HM Treasury has issued licences to enable payments to be made. Officials are in regular contact with all concerned to ensure that these payments continue.

Oil

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil.

Henry Bellingham: The Government do not subscribe to a particular view on when oil production is likely to peak. However, we recognise that there are significant challenges for investment in future oil production and that we have a role to play in working towards enhancing energy supplies, and reducing demand for fossil fuels.
	In partnership with other Government Departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office works internationally to reduce barriers to investment in the oil sector. Bilaterally and multilaterally, we promote the regulatory norms and business climates that enhance confidence and investment. We also use our network of international posts to promote policies such as increased energy efficiency, and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, to reduce demand for oil and transition to the low carbon economy.

Saudi Arabia: Armed forces

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government in Saudi Arabia on the (a) presence and (b) timetable for withdrawal of Saudi military forces in Bahrain.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud, during his visit to the UK on 22 March 2011. Prince Saud confirmed that Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Peninsula Shield Forces would remain in Bahrain for as long as the Bahraini Government requested their presence. GCC forces had been legitimately invited by the Bahraini Government to protect the country's institutions.
	The Secretary of State has not discussed a timetable for withdrawal of the GCC Peninsula Shield Forces from Bahrain with Prince Saud or the Bahraini Government.

Serbia: Kosovo

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on progress in talks between the governments of Serbia and Kosovo on a final settlement of outstanding disputes; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: There have been four meetings of the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The most recent meeting took place on 17-18 May, in Brussels. The Dialogue has so far discussed a number of important practical issues, including registry of civil and cadastral records, freedom of movement, telecommunications and energy.
	In forthcoming rounds of the Dialogue, I urge the Governments of Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively and flexibly with a view to reaching agreements on these and all other relevant issues as soon as possible. With political will on both sides, the Dialogue will build practical co-operation between Kosovo and Serbia that can improve the lives of citizens throughout Kosovo, and move both countries in a more stable manner towards EU accession.

Sri Lanka: Missing Persons

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the government of Sri Lanka, (b) the United Nations and (c) Commonwealth countries on Commonwealth citizens with Tamil ethnicity who have disappeared in Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war in that country.

Alistair Burt: We have regularly raised our concern over the whereabouts of civilians unaccounted for since the end of the war and, in particular we have pressed for the release of detainee lists. I raised this issue with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister most recently when we spoke on 14 June. Disappearances have not however been limited to those with Tamil ethnicity—Sinhala journalists and opposition activists have also disappeared. The number of disappearances has fallen since the end of the war, but disappearances continue.
	Officials discuss the situation in Sri Lanka with international partners, both within the Commonwealth and more widely on a regular basis. Our high commission in Colombo is also in touch with UN colleagues about protection of civilians by UN agencies.

UN World Conference Against Racism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to withdraw from the UN Durban III anti-racism conference; what recent discussions he has had with (a) his EU counterparts, (b) the US Administration and (c) the Government of Israel on this issue; what recent representations he has received (i) supporting and (ii) opposing a withdrawal from the conference; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what reports he has received of the withdrawal of governmental delegations from the UN Durban III Conference; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: We voted against the resolution at last year's UN General Assembly which established a High-Level meeting of the UN General Assembly in September 2011 to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The Government recognise that it is common practice for the UN to convene meetings at regular periodic intervals to commemorate the adoption of its various social and human rights-related agendas. For these reasons, we were ready to agree to a limited commemorative event. However, in light of the lengthy and difficult 2009 Durban Review Conference, we felt the proposed size and scope of the 2011 event was inappropriate.
	We have not yet taken a final decision on our participation in the 2011 high-level meeting. We will nonetheless work closely with EU and colleagues from other countries in the run-up to the September event to try to ensure that the meeting does not become another platform for the kind of anti-Semitic rhetoric and behaviour that was evident at the 2001 World Conference against Racism and to a lesser extent at the 2009 Durban Review Conference. We will also work to make sure that the meeting addresses all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, and that any outcome from the meeting includes a clear statement on the need to combat anti-Semitism as part of wider efforts to tackle racism.
	We are aware that the Government of the United States of America has recently announced its decision not to participate in the September 2011 event. Their announcement follows that of the Governments of Canada and Israel. To date, we have not received reports that any other government has decided against participation.
	The Government's participation and representation at the September meeting will remain under review in light of our efforts to achieve our objectives as set out above. We will also engage with interested British non-governmental organisations in reaching our final decision.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress his Department has made in encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) launched a supplier portal at the beginning of April 2011. The portal provides an electronic platform of easy single point access to allow our all suppliers, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to access opportunities to compete equally for DFID contracts.
	DFID actively seeks opportunities to engage with SMEs through participation at events like the British Expertise seminars. These forums are an opportunity for SMEs to gain a greater understanding of DFID business, engage with senior procurement officials and openly discuss DFID procurement policies and procedures to identify further opportunities to improve.
	In April 2011, DFID developed and published on our external website a specific action plan to assist SMEs. The document can be accessed on the DFID website at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Working-with-DFID/Procurement/Actions-to-Assist-Small-and-Medium-Enterprises/
	Within this document DFID commits to clearly stated key actions which we consider will encourage and reduce unnecessary barriers for SMEs to participate in competitive tenders. We are aiming to have all key actions implemented around October 2011.

Developing Countries: Vaccination

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will estimate the total amount of funding which would be available to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation programme if other nation states matched his Department's contribution on a per head of population basis.

Andrew Mitchell: The additional UK contribution to GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations) represents c$21.5 per head of UK population over five years—this equates to £2.62 per person per year. If all existing sovereign donors to GAVI committed the same contribution per head of population, the total new contribution would be cUS$28 billion.

Developing Countries: Vaccination

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will encourage governments of other nations to match his Department's funding of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation programme on a per head of population basis.

Andrew Mitchell: Sovereign donors will make their own choices about how they allocate their aid. We do not match other donor contributions to other organisations on this basis; we exert choice in how we allocate our aid. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI) came out very well in our root and branch review of multilateral aid so we know that investing in GAVI offers very good value for money. I and my Cabinet colleagues, including the Prime Minister, have lobbied hard to bring other donors with us in stepping up our contributions to GAVI. Several donors have more than doubled their contributions. Australia has increased its contribution ten fold. Bill Gates has added another $1 billion.
	We have brought in new donors over the last year (Korea, Japan, Brazil) and we will continue to encourage others to come on board. Our efforts to date helped GAVI raise $4.3 billion at their pledging conference on June 13. With this they will exceed their ambition of vaccinating more than a quarter of a billion children and saving four million lives. They will expand and accelerate their coverage, immunising more children with more vaccines.

Health Services: Overseas Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what health programmes in what countries his Department funded in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen O'Brien: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) projects are published in the DFID Annual Report. The 2009 Report is available on the DFID website at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Annual-report/Annual-Report-2009/#contents
	In addition, DFID undertook a Health Portfolio Review in 2009 which can be seen at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Media-Room/News-Stories/2010/Health-portfolio-review-2009

Libya: Armed Conflict

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's officials are working on post-conflict planning for Libya.

Andrew Mitchell: It is crucial that the international system starts planning early to help the Libyan people stabilise a future peace. The UK is also working closely with a range of partners on post-conflict planning, including NATO, the UN, the EU and the Libya Contact Group.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is working with Whitehall partners in supporting and planning for post-conflict efforts in Libya. Within DFID there are a range of departments contributing to this work; within the DFID Libya Unit there is a team of five working on stabilisation and transition issues.
	There are also seven UK personnel working on post-conflict planning as part of the International Stabilisation Response Team. Stabilisation Response Teams (SRT) provide an integrated and bespoke approach to post-conflict stabilisation, reconstruction and development. The SRT, comprising UK and international staff, travelled to eastern Libya in late May to assess and set out a well coordinated and effective response to the needs of the Libyan people by the international community in coordination with the UN.

Maldives: Overseas Aid

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will include the Maldives in future non-direct grant programmes relating to (a) climate change mitigation and (b) other issues.

Alan Duncan: The UK is one of 10 donors contributing to the Scaling up Renewable Energy Programme which has allocated finance to the Maldives. We will consider further support as appropriate.
	The Department has recently conducted a full review of bilateral aid. Future bilateral support will be focused on 27 countries. The list excludes the Maldives.

Overseas Aid

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding classified as official development assistance his Department has provided (a) in cash terms and (b) in per capita terms to each country through (i) UK-administered aid including aid paid through the EU and (ii) aid administered by EU aid programmes in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen O'Brien: Provisional 2010 official development assistance (ODA) figures, including country breakdowns, have recently been published on the Department for International Development (DFID) external website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	While this country list is not exhaustive, final figures will be reported later in the year in DFID's publication ‘Statistics on International Development’. This will be made available in the House Library or online at DFID's external website.
	The United Kingdom's attribution of the European Commissions External Assistance budget in 2010-11 is estimated at £954 million. In 2010 DFID's core funding to the European Development fund was 425 million. The European Union's most recent Annual Report, the Annual Report 2010 on the European Community's Development and External Assistance Policies and their Implementation in 2009, is available in the House Library.

Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in (i) Scotland, (ii) South Lanarkshire and (iii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not currently hold information relating to contracts awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To collate this information would incur disproportionate costs.
	In April 2011, DFID developed and published on our external website, a specific action plan to assist SMEs. The document can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Working-with-DFID/Procurement/Actions-to-Assist-Small-and-Medium-Enterprises/

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carer’s Allowance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to adjust the carer’s allowance in line with changes to the cost of living; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: The rate of carer's allowance is increased annually in line with the consumer price index (CPI). The CPI is the official, internationally recognised measure of consumer prices in the United Kingdom, and it is the most recognisable measure of price inflation. The Government have no plans to change these arrangements. The weekly rate for carer’s allowance was increased from £53.90 to £55.55 in April 2011.

Carer’s Allowance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on increasing the level of the carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: The Government recognise the importance of carer’s allowance in providing an independent source of income and recognition of the important role that carers play in society. We acknowledge carers’ concerns on the level of carer’s allowance, and over the last few months have had a number of representations on this from Members of Parliament and from groups representing carers, including Carers UK.
	The rate of carer’s allowance is increased every April in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The Government keep the level of carer’s allowance under review, but carers in lower income households can receive additional help through the income- related benefits, such as income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit. These benefits include a carer premium of £31.00 a week. Carers will also be supported through the universal credit from 2013.

Carers Week

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to (a) promote and (b) mark Carers Week; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: I am proud to support Carers Week 2011. It gives us the opportunity to highlight and celebrate the outstanding contribution that all carers make to their families and their communities, through their tireless devotion of time, energy and efforts to looking after a loved one. The Department for Work and Pensions will be supporting Carers Week in a number of ways:
	actively working with advisory and representative groups to ensure that carers, and carers groups, have access to the information they need on benefits and other forms of support the Department can offer;
	raising staff awareness of Carers Week to increase understanding of the issues that face carers, and encouraging participation in local activities;
	seeking staff feedback on how it can better support them in the challenging role of maintaining employment and care.
	In addition to this a number of staff in Jobcentre Plus and the Pensions and Disability Carers Service will be taking part in local Carers Week events.

Departmental Procurement

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will list on Contract Finder the confirmed sub-contracts of its prime contractors.

Chris Grayling: At this stage DWP are currently in discussions with bidders regarding which elements of their contracts under the Freedom of Information Act can be published. Once agreement has been reached then the contracts including subcontractor details will be published on Contracts Finder website:
	http://www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/Common/View%20Notice.aspx?site=1000&lang=en&Noticeld=1161

Disability Carers Service: Correspondence

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will put in place a means to deal with urgent correspondence from hon. Members within the Parliamentary Business Unit of the Disability Carers Service.

Maria Miller: For all Members of Parliament urgent correspondence in the Pension, Disability and Carers Service Parliamentary Business Unit is cleared to an agreed target of 90% within 15 days of date of receipt. This target is as set by the Cabinet Office and Department for Work and Pensions Customer Standards Group. The current rate of success in answering correspondence within the 15 day limit is 100%. The address for urgent correspondence is:
	Pension, Disability and Carers Service
	Parliamentary Business Unit
	Room 114
	Norcross
	Blackpool
	FY5 3TA.
	A telephone hotline service is also available specifically for Members of Parliament where requests are replied to by phone within 48 hours and the service is available Monday to Friday during the hours of 9 am to 5 pm. The telephone number is 01253 333533.

Disability Living Allowance

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new claimants for disability living allowance there have been (a) in total and (b) with cancer as a primary condition in each of the last five years.

Maria Miller: The number of new claims for DLA received during each of the previous five years is:
	
		
			  DLA claims received 
			 2006-07 430,900 
			 2007-08 448,100 
			 2008-09 472,200 
			 2009-10 483,000 
			 2010-11 441,300 
		
	
	We are unable to answer your specific question regarding the number of new claims for DLA with cancer as a primary condition. This is because our management information system does not go down to the level of detail that would enable us to identify the number of new claimants for disability living allowance (DLA) with cancer as a primary condition.
	Source
	DLA claims: Department for Work and Pensions—RDA60209 reports— DLA Management Information Statistics.

Employment and Support Allowance

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support he plans to provide to people moving from incapacity benefits onto employment and support allowance and jobseeker's allowance in finding employment.

Maria Miller: Moving on to more active benefits will give our customers a real opportunity to get back to work. Whether on employment and support allowance (ESA) or jobseeker's allowance (JSA), we will ensure that they receive all the support they need, tailored to their particular circumstances.
	Through the groundbreaking Work programme we are giving those in the private and voluntary sector with the best expertise the freedom to design tailor-made back to work support built around the needs of the individual. In return for that freedom to innovate we will pay providers by results and we will incentivise them to focus their resources on our hardest to help customers, including those customers who claim JSA or ESA after reassessment. Following reassessment, most of those who go on to receive ESA will be able to access the Work programme immediately, while those who go on to claim JSA will be able to access the Work programme from three months into their claim, recognising the additional challenges they may face in preparing for and finding work compared with other jobseekers.
	We are also modernising the way Jobcentre Plus delivers its services to customers outside of the Work programme. Jobcentre Plus advisers will have the flexibility to assess customers' individual needs and offer the support they see fit, drawing from a flexible menu of provision.
	Our mainstream provision will be complemented by specialist disability employment programmes including Work Choice, which will continue to help people with more severe disabilities or complex needs to prepare for work and to undertake supported employment, with the aim of progressing into unsupported employment where possible.

Employment and Support Allowance

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to ensure support is in place for people with degenerative diseases to find work within 12 months following the implementation of his proposals to limit the payment of contributory employment support allowance to one year; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Support to find work will be available for all employment and support allowance (ESA) customers from the outset of their claim, irrespective of their health condition. This support is available through Jobcentre Plus on a voluntary basis until the outcome of the work capability assessment (WCA) is known.
	Following the WCA, for most ESA customers placed in the Work Related Activity Group, this support will be mandatory either through Jobcentre Plus or through the Work programme.
	The vast majority of ESA customers who want the more intensive support offered by the Work programme will be able to access it as soon as the outcome of the WCA is known. This includes contributory ESA customers who can remain on the programme after their benefit has come to an end, ensuring that they receive all the support they need to help them return to work. The Work programme will place customers in the best possible position to return to work once they are well enough to do so.
	Alternatively those with the most severe disabilities may receive support through Work Choice.

Employment and Support Allowance: Mental Health

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with representatives of mental health charities on the potential effects of implementation of changes to employment and support allowance on the mental health of applicants.

Chris Grayling: The Department values the views of disability groups and we engage in ongoing and helpful dialogue both at ministerial and official level with group representatives. For example, since December 2010, Jobcentre Plus partnership teams have been engaging with customer representative and advisory groups at a local level. My officials have also recently met with MIND, Mencap, National Autistic Society, and RNIB to discuss the work capability assessment.
	We have also consulted with a broad range of stakeholders including independent providers of mental health services at various national forums and events. Our customer communications and awareness learning materials for staff have been developed in response to feedback received at these events.
	We recognise that attending any medical assessment can be a stressful experience, and these will not be carried out if there is enough existing evidence to decide benefit entitlement. The healthcare professionals who carry out the examinations are trained in assessing vulnerable customers, and when people are asked to come for an assessment claimants are encouraged to bring a friend or relative with them.
	We are committed to engaging with third party organisations, including mental health charities, on an ongoing basis so that they can support their customers through the incapacity benefit reassessment journey.

Employment Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will provide training for voluntary groups who are assisting the long-term unemployed as part of his proposals for the Work programme; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Work programme providers will be free to design support based on individual and local need.
	This means determining all their own arrangements, including assembling and managing their own supply chains. The payment model has been designed so that providers will always want to maximise performance, so it will be in their interest to ensure that their subcontractor staff are appropriately trained.

Employment Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding for the Work programme he plans to allocate to the west midlands in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Work programme funding he plans to allocate to Scotland in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Work programme funding has not been allocated by country or region. Funding will ultimately come down to individual prime providers, and the amount they are awarded will very much depend on the performance they achieve. We estimate the overall spend for the Work programme to be between £3 billion to £5 billion over the life of the contracts.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Work programme participants he expects to deal with (a) private sector, (b) voluntary sector and (c) other providers at the point of service delivery.

Chris Grayling: The Work programme will provide personalised support to an expected 2.4 million claimants over the next seven years.
	We expect 630,000 people to start the Work programme in the 10 months between June 2011 and March 2012. By the end of 2012-13 the Work programme could be supporting up to 1.2 million people.
	The organisations delivering the Work programme, including first and second tier subcontractors, are split as follows (a) private sector 38% (b) voluntary sector 46% and (c) public sector 16%. At this stage it is not possible to say whether participants will be dealt with by each sector in precisely the same proportions. The proportions will become clearer over time as participants are referred to the programme.

Employment Schemes: Voluntary Organisations

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2011, Official Report, column 662W, on employment schemes: voluntary organisations, how many of the voluntary sector organisations in the Work programme supply chain will operate in each of the 18 regions.

Chris Grayling: The Work programme supply chain information, including the number of voluntary sector organisations, has been published on the Supplying DWP website:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/supplying-dwp/what-we-buy/welfare-to-work-services/work-programme/

Incapacity Benefit

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people moved from incapacity benefit to (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) the work related activity group found employment in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
	Claimants leaving incapacity benefit are not required to inform the Department of their destinations or future intentions and hence the information that is collected on this group is incomplete.

Incapacity Benefits: Appeals

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what time period he has set in which incapacity benefit claimants will be able to appeal reassessment decisions.

Chris Grayling: The time limit for appealing all benefit outcome decision, including those on incapacity benefit reassessments, is one month after the date the notification of the decision was sent to the claimant. This can be extended by up to 12 months where there are special circumstances for not making the appeal within the one month period.

Industrial Injuries

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints of high temperatures in the workplace the Health and Safety Executive received in each of the last six years.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not collated centrally in a readily retrievable format and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Jobcentre Plus offices have set any targets for the number of sanctions to be issued by each Jobcentre Plus officer.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Darra Singh
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking whether Jobcentre Plus offices have set any targets for the number of sanctions to be issued by each Jobcentre Plus officer. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	I can confirm that no such targets exist and that we have reinforced this message to our District Managers. Sanctions should only be made where people have not adhered to their jobseeker obligations. Ministers have been clear that conditionality is an important part of the Jobseeker's regime. Ministers are also, clear however that this should only be applied where appropriate.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus: Reorganisation

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 May 2011, Official Report, columns 1239-40W, on Jobcentre Plus: reorganisation, when he plans to make an announcement on the new managerial and organisational structure; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the new structure on (a) co-ordination, (b) handling of individual constituency queries, (c) the responsibility of Ministers within his Department and (d) Jobcentre Plus management decision making.

Chris Grayling: The answer of 11 May 2011 explained that the Department is reviewing its structure and senior management responsibilities so that our programme of reforms and efficiency savings are delivered effectively.
	The Department’s executive team is therefore leading a programme of work to design the new managerial and organisational structure. This will support the delivery of efficient, coherent services to both pensioner and working age customers.
	The Permanent Secretary will announce the senior civil service responsibilities in this new structure to departmental staff shortly.
	The Department has considered the effect of the new structure on the coordination and handling of constituency queries, and is confident that these will continue to be handled effectively. The quality of decision making by Jobcentre Plus managers will also be unaffected.
	If, in future, there are any changes to ministerial responsibilities, these will be appropriately communicated.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance in Scotland have been receiving benefits for more than 10 years.

Chris Grayling: The numbers of claimants for both jobseeker's allowance and employment support allowance who have been receiving benefits for more than 10 years in Scotland are as follows. It should be noted that incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance from October 2008.
	(a) 90 jobseeker's allowance claimants have been receiving benefits continuously for more than 10 years in Scotland.
	(b) 105,750 incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants have been receiving benefits continuously for more than 10 years in Scotland. Employment support allowance was introduced in 2008 and therefore there are no claimants on this benefit who have been claiming for more than 10 years.
	Note: Figures are sourced from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study and have been rounded to nearest 10.

Jobseeker’s Allowance: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance in Coventry have been receiving benefits for more than 10 years.

Chris Grayling: Following are the numbers of claimants for both jobseeker’s allowance and employment support allowance who have been receiving benefits for more than 10 years in Coventry. It should be noted that incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance from October 2008.
	(a) No jobseeker’s allowance claimants have been receiving benefits for more than 10 years in Coventry.
	(b) 4, 960 incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants have been receiving benefits for more than 10 years in Coventry. Employment support allowance was introduced in 2008 and therefore there are no claimants on this benefit who have been claiming for more than 10 years.
	Note:
	Figures are sourced from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study and have been rounded to nearest 10.

Life Expectancy

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2011, Official Report, column 517W, on life expectancy, when he plans to place in the Library copies of the tables on healthy and disability-free life expectancy which his Department has commissioned from the Office for National Statistics.

Steve Webb: The reply to which the hon. Member refers states that the Department uses data published by the Office for National Statistics as the main source of information on life expectancy and on healthy and disability-free life expectancy. The only previously unpublished life expectancy data the Department commissioned from the Office for National Statistics relate to improvements in life expectancy of people in each social cohort. These were published in the impact assessment which accompanies the Pensions Bill 2011 (Annex A, pages 17 and 18).

Members: Correspondence

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to respond to the urgent request from the constituent of the hon. Member for Edinburgh West, Roderick Bowie-MacDonald.

Chris Grayling: A letter dated 23 March 2011 was received on 8 April 2011 and the Acting Chief Executive of the Pension Disability and Carers Service replied on 11 April 2011.

Office for Nuclear Regulation

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the transfer of ministerial responsibility for the Office of Nuclear Regulation; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Ministers of the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Energy and Climate Change met in November 2010 to discuss the establishment of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). There have been no further meetings on this issue since then.
	As an agency of the Health and Safety Executive, sponsorship of the ONR rests with the Department for Work and Pensions. The Government announced, on 8 February 2011, their intention to bring forward legislation to establish the ONR as an independent statutory body outside of the HSE. There are no plans to change existing sponsorship arrangements, which ensure the necessary separation between the nuclear regulator and the body responsible for the promotion of nuclear energy.

Poverty: Children

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce child poverty in Scotland.

Maria Miller: As set out in the Coalition Document, the Government are committed to eradicating child poverty in the UK by 2020. We published our strategy for doing so in April. It sets out a new approach to tackling poverty and securing social justice aimed at transforming lives and tackling the causes of poverty. At its heart are the principles of work, fairness, responsibility and support for the most vulnerable. It draws together our radical programme of reform of welfare and education, increasing children's life chances, with a greater concentration on early intervention and on whole-family and whole-life measures. Our strategy establishes a UK-wide framework for tackling child poverty and builds on strategies developed by the devolved Administrations, including that published by the Scottish Government in March this year.

Shared Housing: Bradford

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment his Department has made of the availability of shared accommodation in Bradford.

Steve Webb: No assessment has been made of the supply of shared accommodation in Bradford.

Unemployed People: Public Transport

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 499-500W, on Travel to Interview, how much was granted through (a) the Travel to Interview Scheme and (b) each other scheme being replaced by the Flexible Support Scheme in each year since 2005.

Chris Grayling: The Flexible Support Fund has replaced the following employment programmes: New Deal for Lone Parents; New Deal for Partners; Deprived Areas Fund; Advisor Discretion Fund; Customer Services Director's Flexible Fund; Rapid Response, Work Trials, Allowances and Expenses for clients undertaking basic skills training; Travel to Interview Scheme. The total spend on these programmes since 2005-06 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Employment programme spend 
			 £ million 
			  2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11  (1) 
			 New Deal for Lone Parents (2) 26.0 41.5 21.1 29.4 18.2 5.6 
			 New Deal for Partners 0.7 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 
			 Deprived Areas Fund(3) 58.2 21.6 59.0 63.9 63.0 57.4 
			 Advisor Discretion Fund(4) 17.3 12.8 14.2 16.8 40.2 16.8 
			 Customer Services Director's Flexible Fund(5) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.9 
			 Rapid Response 0.7 1.4 0.6 0.9 10.0 6.5 
			 Work Trials 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.9 1.4 0.9 
			 Allowances and expenses for clients undertaking basic skills training(6) 0.0 1.9 8.7 14.4 22.6 23.2 
			 Travel to Interview Scheme(7) 2.3 2.3 2.2 3.1 6.5 5.7 
			 Total 105.3 82.3 106.4 129.6 162.5 118.1 
			 (1) Figures for 2010-11 are provisional subject to formal sign-off of the departmental accounts. (2) The spend on New Deal for Lone Parents has reduced considerably since 2009-10 as alternative provision for this client group has been available through the Jobcentre Plus Support Contract. (3) The Deprived Areas Fund was broadly similar to a range of earlier programmes, specifically Working Neighbourhood Pilots, External and Internal Action teams and Ethnic Minority Outreach. Spend figures prior to 2007-08 relate to these earlier programmes. (4) The large peak in ADF spend in 2009-10 arose as part of the package of measures to help address the economic downturn. This included allowing newly unemployed customers, access to support under ADF from day one of their jobseekers' allowance (JSA) claim. This easement gave advisers the flexibility to tailor the help and support they offered to suit customer needs and deal with any small challenges that may have otherwise prevented a customer from obtaining a specific job more, quickly. Prior to this ADF was only available to people who had been in continuous receipt of JSA for 26 weeks or more, unless they were participating in one of the New Deal schemes. In 2010 stricter cost controls were put in place to reduce the spend along with a number of changes in scope, for example, ADF was no longer used to fund training for an individual which would otherwise be available through other employment programmes. (5) Customer Services Director's Flexible Fund was only operational from 2009-10. (6) These allowances and expenses were only payable from 2006/07 onwards. (7) The amount spent on the Travel to Interview Scheme has risen over the last two years as a result of significantly higher take-up.

Work Capability Assessment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which version of the Work Capability Assessment will be applied to (a) new claimants who applied for employment and support allowance (i) before and (ii) on or after 28 March 2011 and (b) incapacity benefit recipients who were sent an IB50 form (A) before and (B) on or after 28 March 2011.

Chris Grayling: Changes to the work capability assessment (WCA) came into force through regulations on 28 March 2011. The assessment and the ESA50 questionnaire were updated to reflect these changes. Individuals receiving a new ESA50 questionnaire (reflecting the new regulations) will have a determination made under the new regulations. The new ESA50 form began being issued to claimants from 14 March
	2011.
	The IB50 form ceased being sent to recipients of incapacity benefit during January 2011.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers are designed to allow for the operation of fixed-wing carrier on-board delivery aircraft.

Peter Luff: The Queen Elizabeth (QE) class aircraft carriers are optimised around an air group consisting of the Joint Strike Fighter and Merlin helicopter, with a number of other aircraft designated as ‘secondary aircraft’ which could be operated from the carrier—but with varying degrees of operational limitation.
	Following the decision to convert at least one of the carriers to carry the more capable carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the list of secondary aircraft is being updated to reflect the change in aircraft launch and recovery equipment. While some fixed-wing aircraft are included within this list, we have not yet made any decisions as to whether there is a requirement for a specific onboard delivery aircraft, and if so, which aircraft or helicopter would undertake such a role.

Armed Services: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new recruits to each of the armed services were recorded as domiciled in each London borough in financial year 2009-10.

Andrew Robathan: This information is not held in the format requested. However, the following table provides the number of recruits, in financial year 2009-10, through London-based careers offices or with educational links to London. While this will give an indication of the numbers recruited from London it does not provide a comprehensive picture of where individuals actually reside as they may not always apply to join the services through their nearest career office or may choose other means by which to apply.
	
		
			 Service Officers and other ranks recruited through London-based establishments in financial year 2009-10 
			 Royal Navy and Royal Marines 204 
			 Army 921 
			 Royal Air Force 68 
		
	
	Royal Navy and Royal Marines Officers, included in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines total, are primarily recruited via regional officer careers liaison centres, each of which covers a large area of the UK. The recruitment data for army officers, included in the Army total, are based on data related to the location of the schools and universities from which officers are recruited together with the small number recruited via careers offices.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the contribution made by small businesses who often bring the agility and innovation we need in responding to demanding and urgent military requirements. For this reason, our consultation Green Paper, ‘Equipment, Support and Technology for UK Defence and Security’, published last December, specifically sought views and ideas for encouraging small businesses to participate and a number of specific steps will be set out in a White Paper later this year.
	In the meantime, we encourage small businesses to bid for MOD contracts by advertising our requirements over £10,000 on the Government’s new ‘Contracts Finder’ electronic portal and we are working to simplify the bidding and contracting processes. We are also working with our major prime contractors with a view to improving small business access to sub-contract opportunities.

EU Law

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence is responsible for transposing one EU Directive into domestic law, namely the Defence and Security Directive (2009/81/EC). This concerns the coordination of procedures for the award of certain works contracts, supply contracts and service contracts by contracting authorities or entities in the fields of Defence and Security. This directive came into force on 21 August 2009 under the previous Government.

Ex-servicemen: Alcoholism

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the number of veterans who left the forces (a) in the last two years, (b) between two and five years ago, (c) between five and 10 years ago and (d) more than 10 years ago who are diagnosed with alcohol abuse.

Andrew Robathan: No information is held that would enable such an estimate to be made.

Ex-servicemen: Prisoners

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has undertaken on the characteristics of veterans in prison.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the joint statement I made with the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt), in the House on 15 September 2010, Official Report, column 40WS, on the findings of a study by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA), which is the major piece of research my Department has undertaken on the characteristics of veterans in prison.

Ex-servicemen: Suicide

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the number of veterans who committed suicide in each of the last 20 years.

Andrew Robathan: Information on the total number of veterans who committed suicide in each of the last 20 years is not held. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) currently publish data of detailed causes of the mortality, including suicide, of veterans of the 1990-91 operation in the Gulf, together with comparative data for a matched cohort of personnel who did not deploy. The latest data, produced by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA), was released on 31 March 2011.
	The MOD also commissioned research from Manchester university to investigate the level of suicide among those leaving the UK armed forces, over the period 1996 to 2005, and to make comparisons with matched personnel remaining in service and the general population. This work was published in March 2009.
	Copies of both reports will be placed in the Library of the House.
	The MOD is currently undertaking research into the causes of death, including suicide, among those who served in the Falklands campaign. This research, which is expected to be completed by the end of March 2012, will assist us in continuing to develop our support for our former personnel and those leaving the services. The MOD is also undertaking a similar study on veterans of operations Telic and Herrick. This will monitor the causes of death, including suicide, and cancer morbidity of all serving members of the armed forces from 2003 until the end of operations in Afghanistan. The intention is to run the study for the lifetime of the cohort; therefore the population will include both serving and discharged personnel.

Gulf States: Royal Military Academy

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what officer training co-operation with Gulf State forces is being undertaken at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Nick Harvey: Currently the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has 25 officer cadets under training from those states that border the Arabian Gulf.
	Overseas officer cadets are sponsored to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst via official agreements between the UK Ministry of Defence, in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as necessary, and the relevant national authority.

Merlin Helicopters

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the RAF Merlin Mark 3 will be transferred to the Royal Navy.

Andrew Robathan: We intend to upgrade and transfer our current fleet of Merlin Mk 3/3a helicopters to the Royal Navy: the first upgraded helicopters will enter service with the Commando Helicopter Force in time to replace the Sea King Mk 4 helicopters, which are planned to be withdrawn from service in 2016.

Nuclear Submarines

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the cost to the public purse will be of designing the US-UK Common Missile Compartment for the Trident replacement submarine in the period from 2011 to 2016;
	(2)  what proportion of the cost of the design of the US-UK Common Missile Compartment will be met by the public purse; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when he expects a decision to be made on the construction location of the US-UK Common Missile Compartment for the Trident replacement submarine; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The cost to the UK Government of US-UK Common Missile Compartment activities over financial years 2011-12 to 2015-16 is estimated at £103 million. The UK has agreed to pay 12.5% of all non-recurring expenditure on design activities.
	A decision on where the UK's Common Missile Compartment will be built is planned to be made during 2012. That decision could be made, however, anytime up until the first quarter of 2014 without any adverse impact on the overall successor programme.

RAF Leuchars

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the geographical location of RAF Leuchars on the (a) combat radius, (b) maximum range and (c) ferry range of aircraft stationed at the base in the execution of the bases' (i) Quick Reaction Alert (North) duties and (ii) other duties in relation to National Security Strategy priorities; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The geographical location of bases is an important factor in the RAFs future basing strategy. This takes into account requirements for both operational and training flying and addresses combat radius and reaction time for Quick Reaction Alert commitments.

RAF Leuchars

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the most recent assessment of the performance of RAF Leuchars in relation to the execution of its Quick Reaction Alert duties took place.

Nick Harvey: The most recent assessment of the performance of the RAF Leuchars Quick Reaction Alert Force took place on 9 May 2011.

Royal Irish Regiment

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received on his decision on a homecoming parade for the Royal Irish Regiment in Belfast.

Andrew Robathan: The Department has received fewer than 20 representations on the subject of a homecoming parade for the Royal Irish Regiment in Belfast.
	Discussions with officials from Belfast city council continue with the aim of agreeing an appropriate way to recognise the contribution of the 1(st) Battalion Irish Guards and The Royal Irish Regiment during their last tour in Afghanistan.
	The Department acknowledges the importance for the general public to have an opportunity to show their appreciation and support for our service personnel; both units will have participated in a full and engaging post operational tour programme by the end of this year, including events in Northern Ireland.

World War One: Anniversaries

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to mark the 100th anniversary of the commencement of the First World War in 2014.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my noble Friend, Lord Astor of Hever, to the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, in another place on 22 March 2011, Official Report,House of Lords, column 594.

EDUCATION

Academies: Brighton

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of progress on the academies programme in (a) Brighton, Kemptown constituency, (b) Brighton and Hove, (c) East Sussex and (d) West Sussex.

Nick Gibb: As of 9 June 2011, no schools in the Brighton Kemptown constituency have registered an interest in becoming an academy. Two schools have registered an interest in Brighton and Hove, 27 in East Sussex and 19 in West Sussex. Of these, Ringmer community college in East Sussex has applied and been issued an Academy Order. Hazelwick school, Medmerry Primary School, Southwater Infant school, Southwater Junior school and Warden Park school in West Sussex have applied; all but Warden Park School have been issued Academy Orders.
	Brighton Aldridge community academy in Brighton and Hove, along with Eastbourne academy in East Sussex, and Midhurst Rother college, Shoreham academy, Sir Robert Woodard academy and The Littlehampton academy in West Sussex have all opened as sponsored academies.
	In addition, Portslade community college in Brighton and Hove; Fitsham Valley school, The Grove and Hillcrest school in East Sussex; and Heyworth Primary school, Manhood community college and The Regis school in West Sussex are planned to open as sponsored academies during the 2011/12 academic year.
	Full details of schools that have formally applied for academy status, as well as a list of academies that have opened in the academic year 2010/11 can be found on the Department for Education academies website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011

Children: West Midlands

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were looked after in each local authority area in the west midlands in each year since 2008-09.

Tim Loughton: The number of children who were looked after at 31 March in each local authority area in the west midlands, for years 2006 to 2010 (the latest year for which figures are available), is shown in the following tables.
	This information has been extracted from table LAA1 of the Statistical First Release ‘Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2010’, this is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000960/index.shtml
	
		
			 Table 1: Children looked after at 31 March, in the   west midlands   by local authority  (1,2)   , years ending 31 March 2006 to 2010 , coverage: England 
			 Numbers and rates per 10,000 children aged under 18 years 
			  Numbers  (3) 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 England 60,300 60,000 59,400 60,900 64,400 
			       
			 West Midlands 7,140 7,310 7,370 7,640 8,010 
			 Birmingham 1,970 2.105 2,095 2,095 2,035 
			 Coventry 490 500 535 515 590 
			 Dudley 450 470 510 545 615 
			 Herefordshire 155 170 155 165 160 
			 Sandwell 555 500 480 475 505 
			 Shropshire 190 185 195 200 220 
			 Solihull 280 320 340 405 415 
			 Staffordshire 680 655 660 700 740 
			 Stoke-On-Trent 430 440 415 395 405 
			 Telford and Wrekin 200 230 235 250 270 
			 Walsall 455 430 445 465 495 
			 Warwickshire 465 455 485 540 575 
			 Wolverhampton 375 370 350 370 400 
			 Worcestershire 435 475 480 530 585 
		
	
	
		
			 Numbers and rates per 10,000 children aged under 18 years 
			  Rates  (4) 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 England 55 55 54 55 58 
			       
			 West Midlands 59 61 61 64 67 
			 Birmingham 78 84 84 83 80 
			 Coventry 72 74 79 76 86 
			 Dudley 67 70 76 82 93 
			 Herefordshire 42 46 42 45 46 
			 Sandwell 81 74 71 70 73 
			 Shropshire 31 31 32 33 37 
			 Solihull 61 70 74 88 92 
			 Staffordshire 39 38 38 41 44 
			 Stoke-On-Trent 82 85 81 75 78 
			 Telford and Wrekin 51 60 61 66 71 
			 Walsall 75 71 73 77 82 
			 Warwickshire 42 41 43 48 52 
			 Wolverhampton 70 69 66 69 76 
		
	
	
		
			 Worcestershire 37 40 41 45 50 
			 (1) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (2) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (3) England totals have been rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000, and to the nearest 10 otherwise. Regional totals have been rounded to the nearest 10. Other numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. (4) The rates per 10,000 children under 18 years have been derived using the mid-year population estimates for 2009 provided by the Office for National Statistics. Source: SSDA 903

Departmental Renewable Energy

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many buildings (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department have had renewable energy equipment installed to provide power in the last 12 months; and what type of equipment was installed in each such case.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has not installed renewable energy equipment in any of its owned or leased buildings in the last 12 months.
	However, 123 photovoltaic panels were installed onto the roof of 2 St Paul's Place in Sheffield, a property owned by the Department, in May 2010. These panels generate approximately 16,000 kWh of electricity a year, for use within the building.

Departmental Responsibilities

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what strategic framework his Department has developed for the delivery of its core functions during the comprehensive spending review period.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education’s business plan, initially published in November 2010 with a refreshed version published in May 2011, sets out the Department’s high-level vision and reform priorities for the whole of the spending review period, alongside the resources we will spend and the data we will be making available to the public to show the impact our reforms are having. Progress against the business plan is set out in the structural reform plan monthly updates on the No. 10 website.

Design: Curriculum

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has assessed the effects on the creative industries and manufacturing of the potential removal of design and technology from the national curriculum.

Nick Gibb: As part of the current review of the national curriculum we will be considering all the relevant evidence before making proposals on which, if any, subjects beyond English, mathematics, science and physical education should remain part of the national curriculum in future.
	We have already completed a Call for Evidence to which the public were invited to contribute their views and experiences about curriculum subjects, including design and technology. We received nearly 5,800 responses, including many from representatives of industry and commerce, and these are currently being analysed. We will draw on this and other evidence, including relevant international evidence, in drawing up our proposals. There will then be a further statutory consultation on those proposals early next year, before final decisions are taken.

Home Education

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of funding reductions on the provision of one-to-one tuition in the summer term for pupils approaching examinations or end of primary school assessments.

Nick Gibb: £256 million was allocated to schools in 2010-11 through the Standards Fund for one-to-one tuition. This funding has not been reduced and schools can use it until 31 August 2011. The conditions for the use of this funding have been relaxed to allow all schools the flexibility to offer one-to-one tuition at Key Stage 4, from within their Key Stage 3 allocations.
	Funding for one-to-one tuition for 2011-12 has been included as part of schools' overall budgets through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). Schools can use their DSG funding as they see fit. Where schools decide to offer one-to-one tuition, they will have more flexibility to provide it in the way that best suits their pupils.

Marriage Guidance: Grants

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 497W, on marriage guidance: grants, what proportion of the work of each organisation listed funded by his Department's Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Scheme will be (a) preventative couple relationship support, (b) relationship counselling for couples in difficulty and (c) work with families which have already experienced break-up; in which local authorities they will work; and how many couples he expects each organisation to help.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not hold information by organisation showing which funds have been allocated by the breakdown requested by the hon. Member.

Schools: Bolton

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of schools in Bolton metropolitan borough that will have funding withdrawn during the academic year as a result of the reduction in his Department's Standards Fund in April 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The final instalment of the Standards Fund for 2010-11 was paid as part of the Dedicated Schools Grant payment to local authorities on 19 May 2011. These arrangements should mean that it will not be necessary for local authorities to make any in-year adjustments to schools' budgets.

Schools: Capital Investment

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to respond to the James review of capital funding.

Nick Gibb: The Government will respond to the capital review soon.
	However we are already implementing changes that are very much in the spirit of the capital review recommendations, and which will help deliver the buildings and facilities that children need. These include focusing the available funding on providing new school places where they are needed, and on the buildings in the worst condition; getting the best value for money from our existing Building Schools for the Future commitments and other projects; and considering how the school premises regulations can be simplified so as to remove unnecessary burdens and blockages.

Schools: Rural Areas

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provisions in legislation govern the potential closure of rural schools; and whether he has any plans to bring forward proposals to revise those provisions.

Nick Gibb: There is currently a presumption against closure of rural primary schools. This was introduced in 1998 and reinforced in the 2006 Education and Inspections Act. Although this presumption exists, the presumption does not mean that no rural school will ever close, but it does ensure that the case for closure is strong and that the proposals are clearly in the best interests of educational provision in the area. We recognise the importance of preserving access to a local school for rural communities and therefore plan for the presumption against the closure of rural schools to continue.

Teachers: Pensions

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of proposed changes to the Teachers Pension Scheme on teachers in independent schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 13 June 2011
	The Independent Public Service Pensions Commission, chaired by Lord Hutton, published its final report on 10 March and the Government have agreed that its recommendations will form the basis for consultation. No decisions have yet been taken on changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme. The Government's consultation will include consultation with representatives of all stakeholders, including teacher unions and representatives of the Independent Schools Sector.

Teachers: Training

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the potential effect of (a) changes to the funding of teacher education and (b) the introduction of tuition fees on the (i) capacity and (ii) quality of teacher education.

Nick Gibb: The Schools White Paper, “The Importance of Teaching”, said that we would publish details of our reforms to initial teacher training. We will shortly be publishing these proposals, which will include consideration of funding and student finance. There will be a period of discussion following publication when we will be seeking views from the sector about the potential effect of our proposals, and we will publish our finalised plans for reform once we have assessed the responses.

University Technical Colleges

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 55W, on university technical colleges, if he will publish a list of approved university technical colleges including their sponsors.

Nick Gibb: The Department is now assessing the full applications that it has received to establish university technical colleges from September 2012 onwards. An announcement will be made in due course about those that are approved. That announcement will include the sponsors submitting the proposals.
	University technical colleges have already been approved in four cases:
	Walsall (black country) sponsored by Walsall college and Wolverhampton university;
	Aston sponsored by Aston university;
	Greenwich sponsored by Greenwich university, Greenwich local authority and Lewisham college; and
	Hackney sponsored by Hackney community college.
	Of these, Walsall and Aston have signed funding agreements.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Social Housing

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to increase the provision of social rented housing.

Andrew Stunell: The Government are investing nearly £4.5 billion to help deliver up to 150,000 new affordable homes between 2011-12 and 2014-15 in England.
	We have introduced a new more flexible form of social housing, Affordable Rent, which will be the main element of the new supply. There will also be some flexibility to fund other forms of tenure including social rent in exceptional circumstances.

Social Housing

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the likely number of new social housing starts between May 2010 and April 2015.

Grant Shapps: Between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011, there were 35,690 starts on site for social rented homes through the Homes and Communities Agency.
	We are investing £4.5 billion to deliver up to 150,000 new affordable homes between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2015.

Local Government Resources Review

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent progress he has made on the local government resources review.

Eric Pickles: Since the publication of the terms of reference on 17 March 2011, the local government resource review has been considering options on how to allow local authorities to keep at least a proportion of business rates, and how to introduce powers to allow them to carry out tax increment financing. The review has held a number of meetings with partners in local government and with businesses and their representative organisations. It will publish its proposals shortly for consultation.

Housing: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of empty homes and to support housing regeneration in Pendle constituency.

Andrew Stunell: Over the next six years, through the New Homes Bonus, Pendle will receive over £600,000 for additional homes and empty properties brought into use in the first year. Further payments will be made based on future delivery.
	Pendle will also benefit from the £30 million provided nationally to help challenged Housing Market Renewal areas exit from the programme.

Localism Bill: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on the effects on Wales of implementation of the provisions of the Localism Bill.

Greg Clark: Ministers have written to Welsh Assembly Government Ministers about a range of issues in the Localism Bill.
	As normal with Bills that affect Wales, discussions between the Department and the Welsh Assembly Government have been ongoing as the Localism Bill has progressed through this House and the other place.

Audit Commission: National Audit Office

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what dates representatives of the Audit Commission dined with representatives of the National Audit Office paid for by the public purse since 2007-08; in which restaurants each meal took place; and at what cost. [Official Report, 6 July 2011, Vol. 530, c. 17MC.]

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
	Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 20 June 2011
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
	The Commission has paid for meals with the NAO on five occasions since 2007/08:
	1 November 2007 the then MD, Communications met with Gabrielle Cohen, Assistant Auditor General NAO for lunch. Information on the location and cost is no longer available.
	3 December 2007 Steve Bundred, Chief Executive and Sir John Bourn, Comptroller and Auditor General of the NAO, dined at L'Escargot at a cost of £103.39;
	5 May 2009 Steve Bundred, Chief Executive, Michael O'Higgins, Chairman and Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General of the NAO dined at Qurinale at a cost of £240.19;
	14 September 2009 David Walker, MD Communications met with Gabrielle Cohen, Assistant Auditor General NAO at the Ebury Wine Bar at a cost of £53.04; and
	7 April 2010 David Walker, MD Communications met with Gabrielle Cohen, Assistant Auditor General NAO at the Footstool restaurant at a cost of £22.50.
	The Commission dined with the NAO on three occasions where the Commission did not pay.
	11 June 2007 Steve Bundred, Chief Executive and Sir John Bourn, Comptroller and Auditor General of the NAO met for dinner at Wiltons;
	15 January 2009 David Walker, MD Communications met with Gabrielle Cohen, Assistant Auditor General NAO for lunch at the Ebury Wine Bar; and
	2 February 2011 Eugene Sullivan, Chief Executive had a breakfast meeting with the Comptroller and Auditor General of the NAO, Amyas Morse at the Mint Hotel.

EU Grants and Loans: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding from the European Regional Development Fund for Yorkshire and the Humber has not yet been allocated in the most recent spending round.

Bob Neill: Of the total €583,580,959 allocated from the European Regional Development Fund to Yorkshire and Humber, €326,521,131 has yet to be committed.

Fire Services

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire hydrants are in operation in England and Wales.

Bob Neill: This information is not held centrally.

Fire Services

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many rescues from fires were carried out (a) by each fire brigade and (b) in each region between April 2010 and March 2011.

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many rescues from fires each fire brigade in each region carried out in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: The number of persons rescued from fires between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 for each fire and rescue authority area and for each statistical region are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Rescues from fires by fire and rescue authority area and by region, England, 2010-11  (1) 
			  Casualties rescued  (2) Uninjured and rescued  
			  Rescued by firefighters Rescued by other/unknown Rescued by firefighters Rescued by other/unknown Total persons rescued 
			 East Midlands 97 47 92 63 299 
			 Derbyshire 27 15 33 31 106 
			 Leicestershire 14 7 10 10 41 
			 Lincolnshire 7 7 1 0 15 
			 Northamptonshire 14 8 14 9 45 
			 Nottinghamshire 35 10 34 13 92 
			       
			 Eastern 133 45 146 58 382 
			 Bedfordshire 16 1 34 3 54 
			 Cambridgeshire 10 7 11 24 52 
			 Essex 35 10 42 5 92 
			 Hertfordshire 29 8 10 9 56 
			 Norfolk 20 8 20 7 55 
			 Suffolk 23 11 29 10 73 
			       
			 London 296 97 226 89 708 
			       
			 North East 90 31 47 21 189 
			 Cleveland 14 4 8 3 29 
			 Durham 16 7 3 6 32 
			 Northumberland 2 4 8 4 18 
			 Tyne and Wear 58 16 28 8 110 
			       
			 North West 378 129 197 61 765 
			 Cheshire 10 14 35 17 76 
			 Cumbria 15 3 7 3 28 
			 Lancashire 105 25 38 12 180 
			 Greater Manchester 201 73 88 21 383 
			 Merseyside 47 14 29 8 98 
			       
			 South East 235 58 188 53 534 
			 Berkshire 18 9 35 6 68 
			 Buckinghamshire 10 4 14 2 30 
			 East Sussex 30 8 29 7 74 
			 Hampshire 34 7 36 8 85 
			 Isle of Wight 3 0 1 0 4 
			 Kent 56 15 38 12 121 
			 Oxfordshire 19 5 10 4 38 
			 Surrey 20 8 18 7 53 
			 West Sussex 45 2 7 7 61 
			       
			 South West 91 58 115 55 319 
			 Avon 22 12 19 15 68 
			 Cornwall 6 8 8 8 30 
			 Devon and Somerset 30 12 54 18 114 
			 Dorset 6 1 20 2 29 
		
	
	
		
			 Gloucestershire 17 16 9 6 48 
			 Wiltshire 10 9 5 6 30 
			       
			 West Midlands 180 95 97 50 422 
			 Hereford and Worcester 16 11 10 4 41 
			 Shropshire 9 2 10 4 25 
			 Staffordshire 34 26 8 19 87 
			 Warwickshire 4 8 17 8 37 
			 West Midlands 117 48 52 15 232 
			       
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 210 90 135 61 496 
			 Humberside 57 27 19 16 119 
			 North Yorkshire 18 5 16 2 41 
			 South Yorkshire 33 14 40 24 111 
			 West Yorkshire 102 44 60 19 225 
			       
			 England 1,710 650 1,243 511 4,114 
			 (1) = Provisional (2) Includes 367 cases where there was no obvious sign of injury but a precautionary check was recommended. Source: Fire and Rescue Incident Records, DCLG

Heating: Registration

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons he proposes to make UK Accreditation Service registration compulsory for solid fuel installations; what estimate he has made of the number of installers who are likely to be affected by this change; what timetable he has set for its introduction; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The Department is proposing to introduce a requirement for UKAS accreditation to standard EN 45011 for all Building Regulations competent person self-certification schemes, including those authorised for the installation of solid fuel combustion appliances. Accreditation to this standard will improve the consistency of the quality assurance systems of the schemes, particularly in respect of the assessment of the technical competence and monitoring of activities of their members. This will also help to improve compliance with the Building Regulations to the benefit of the customers of the members.
	Accreditation applies to the operators of competent person schemes, not to the registered members of the schemes and should have little or no effect on the members who are competent and carry out compliant work. Accreditation will bring competent person schemes into line with the Department for Energy and Climate Change's Microgeneration Certification Scheme and the Green Deal.
	At 31 March 2011 there were about 1,900 registered installer members of competent person schemes authorised for the installation of solid fuel combustion appliances.
	We propose to introduce the requirement from 1 October 2011 but will grant schemes an appropriate transitional period after that to achieve accreditation.

Housing: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of homes built in Leeds were built on (a) brownfield and (b) greenfield land in each of the last five years.

Bob Neill: The proportion of homes built on previously-developed (including previously-residential) and non previously-developed land in the periods 2002 to 2005 and 2006 to 2009 can be found in the following table.
	
		
			 Leeds 2002  -  05 2006  -  09 
			 Previously-developed 81 81 
			 Non previously-developed 19 19 
		
	
	This information is taken from table P213 of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Live Tables on Land Use Change Statistics.
	Information for local authorities is shown in four-year periods because of volatility in estimates for individual years.
	The figures for previously developed land include development on gardens.

Local Government: Complaints

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has considered the merits of allowing complaints lodged against parish and town councils to be investigated by the local government ombudsman.

Bob Neill: We are open to representations on this matter.

Oil

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry), on 16 June 2011, Official Report, column 895W.

Private Rented Housing: Standards

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Localism Bill to enable local authorities to impose penalties on private landlords who are found to be in breach of national and local standards for the quality of accommodation on more than one occasion.

Grant Shapps: Local authorities already have powers under the Housing Act 2004 to take action against the owners of properties which are not properly maintained. If, having made an assessment under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, a property is found to contain serious (category 1) hazards, the local authority has a duty to take the most appropriate action. This could range from trying to deal with the problems informally at first to prohibiting the use of the whole or part of the dwelling depending on the severity of the hazard. Failure to comply with a statutory notice could lead to a fine of up to £5,000.
	Although I keep these matters under constant review we have no plans to review the operation of the Housing Health and Safety System or its associated enforcement regime.

Public Sector: Land

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) Peterborough and (b) Cambridgeshire will be included in the pilot scheme for auctions of publicly-owned land in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 13 May 2011, Official Report, column 1383W. Details of the pilot of the land disposal elements of the land auction model, including potential locations will be announced in due course.

Rent Service: Red Fish

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Rent Service spent on services provided by Poisson Rouge/Red Fish Corporation in each of the last five years for which figures are available; for what type of event, and in what locations.

Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
	The Rent Service was abolished in 2009 and its functions transferred to the VOA. Historical information is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Trade Unions

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of full-time trades union officials whose salary is paid by local authorities.

Bob Neill: This information is not centrally collated by my Department.
	However, in September 2010, I note that the Taxpayers’ Alliance published a comprehensive survey of public authorities' employment of trade union officials.
	http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/campaign/2010/09/new-tpa-research-taxpayers-fund-trade-unions-to-the-tune-of- 85-million-a-year.html
	Moving forward, my Department's local government transparency initiative will help ensure that payments to trade unions and the titles of staff posts are open to greater public scrutiny.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol-related admissions to hospital in 2009-10 were readmissions.

Anne Milton: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what definition the NHS uses of an alcohol-related admission to hospital;
	(2)  what methodology the NHS uses to determine whether a patient admission to hospital is alcohol-related.

Anne Milton: The NHS Information Centre and the Department use a common method to estimate alcohol-related admissions, based on research undertaken by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO).
	The method makes use of the internationally applied concept of attributable fractions. In the case of alcohol-related admissions, an attributable fraction represents the estimated percentage of admissions that can be attributed to alcohol consumption. The NWPHO estimated fractions for the 47 conditions for which there was sufficient epidemiological evidence that the risk of morbidity is affected by alcohol consumption. In some cases, such as alcoholic liver disease, the conditions are wholly attributable to alcohol, in which case the attributable fraction is 1, or 100%. In the case of partially attributable conditions, the fractions often vary by age and sex. The list includes chronic conditions such as some cancers, acute conditions such as ethanol poisoning, and external causes such as road accidents.
	Further details about how the fractions were generated can be found in the NWPHO report “Alcohol-attributable fractions for England: Alcohol-attributable mortality and hospital admissions”, available at:
	www.nwph.net/alcohol/lape/nationalindicator.htm
	Further details about how the fractions are applied to hospital episode data can be found in the report “NI39 technical guide”, available at:
	www.nwph.net/alcohol/lape/nationalindicator.htm

Ambulance Services: Standards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to bring forward proposals to improve response times of ambulances in metropolitan cities.

Simon Burns: The Department has examined the whole area of targets, including those in the ambulance service, to put patient safety, experience and outcomes at the centre of the national health service. Plans to strengthen the Category A (immediately life-threatening), eight-minute response time target are currently being considered, but there are no separate plans to centrally review response times for ambulances in metropolitan cities. Each trust must ensure and be able to demonstrate that it has regard to the reasonable needs of persons in the whole of the area to which the trust must ordinarily provide goods and services.

Care Homes

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the likely change in the level of preventable deaths resulting from vulnerable people being moved out of residential care to which they are accustomed.

Paul Burstow: The Department appreciates that it can be traumatic for some frail, older or vulnerable people if they have to be moved from residential care homes, which have become their true homes.
	The decision to close a care home is taken either by the local council or, if it is an independent home, the proprietor(s). The Department is concerned that any decision to close a home should be dealt with as sensitively and appropriately as possible. It is essential that proper arrangements are made for the safe and satisfactory transfer of residents to other suitable homes.
	Residents and their families should be fully involved in and consulted during the process. Adequate time should be allowed, so that residents and their relatives can make decisions and arrangements in a way that minimises stress.
	Local authorities are experienced at moving care home residents and understand that any such moves should be well planned and sensitively carried out. The Mental Capacity Act requires that, where a vulnerable person lacks capacity and has no family involved in their care, Independent Mental Capacity Advocate should be appointed to represent their interests.
	On 8 June, the university of Birmingham published a guide on care home closures, entitled “Achieving closure: Good practice in supporting older people during residential care closures”. The report was commissioned by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and has gone to every focal authority in England. It is available on the university of Birmingham website at:
	www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2011/06/08June CareReport.aspx
	Where a move is carried out well, the Department expects that there should be no preventable deaths.

Care Homes

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility NHS commissioners have for the care of vulnerable clients placed into care services.

Paul Burstow: National health service commissioners are responsible for including in the contracts they make with providers terms to ensure that high quality services are delivered for patients and that value is delivered for the taxpayer. They are also responsible for making sure that providers are registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Care Homes: Standards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission in regulating the standard of care homes; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Department monitors the Care Quality Commission's (CQC's) financial and operational performance and risks through regular formal accountability meetings. Regular meetings are also held between both Ministers and the Permanent Secretary and chief executive of the national health service and the chair and chief executive of the CQC, as well as meetings at officials' level.
	The CQC is responsible for assessing and ensuring the quality of its inspection and monitoring of specific providers on a day to day basis. The CQC's annual accounts and annual report are laid before Parliament and it is publicly accountable through parliamentary scrutiny, including Select Committees.
	To ensure the social care system of the future is fit for purpose, the forthcoming social care White Paper will explore the place of regulation alongside other mechanisms in driving quality improvement in social care. This will include a discussion of the opportunities presented to refine and strengthen the CQC's role as a quality inspectorate in this new system.

Care Quality Commission: Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the provision of funding for the Care Quality Commission.

Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has a budget settlement for 2011-12 that has been agreed with the Department. The CQC's financial position is kept under constant review during the financial year and Ministers and officials meet with the CQC on a regular basis. Funding is discussed as necessary.
	The CQC made representations to the Department regarding the provision of funding as part of the 2011-12 budget setting process.
	The hon. Member for Leeds North East (Fabian Hamilton) has asked a written parliamentary question on the subject.
	Departmental records show that, since 1 April 2011, we have received one item of correspondence about the provision of funding for the CQC from a member of the public. This figure represents correspondence received by the Department's central correspondence team only.

Care Quality Commission: Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the effect of funding allocated by his Department on the capacity of the Care Quality Commission to meet inspection demand in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England. It is therefore for the CQC to determine how it delivers its regulatory functions, including the capacity it requires in order to carry out its inspection functions efficiently and effectively.
	Each year, the CQC agrees its business plan and financial allocation with the Department. Its financial position is then kept under constant review during the financial year.

Care Quality Commission: Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department expects to allocate to the Care Quality Commission in each of the next five years.

Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has an initial 2011-12 revenue budget settlement of £50 million from the Department. The CQC has also estimated that fees due from registered providers in 2011-12 will amount to £92 million. The Department will shortly confirm the CQC's initial 2011-12 budget for capital and associated revenue charges.
	The CQC's financial position is kept under constant review during the financial year.
	Funding for the CQC for 2012-13, and beyond, will be considered in due course.

Care Quality Commission: Manpower

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to increase the number of inspectors employed by the Care Quality Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England. It is therefore for the CQC to determine how it delivers its regulatory functions, including the staffing complement it requires in order to carry out its functions efficiently and effectively.

Departmental Ministerial Responsibility

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of meeting requests from hon. Members which its Ministers (a) agree to and (b) refuse; and what criteria are used in determining the outcome of a request.

Simon Burns: Records of written meeting requests, and responses, are held on the Department's correspondence database.
	A variety of factors are considered in determining the response to each meeting request.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made in encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts.

Simon Burns: This Department has fully effected the transparency requirements on procurement which now apply to all central Departments under this Government. These include:
	all new central Government tender documents for contracts over £10,000 to be published on a single website from September 2010, with this information to be made available to the public free of charge; and
	all new central Government ICT contracts over £10,000 to be published in full online from July 2010.
	The publication of these documents takes place on Contracts Finder, which is a Government-wide website implemented by the Cabinet Office.
	As all Departments are required to do, this Department has also agreed in May of this year its own small and medium-sized businesses (SME) action plan with the Cabinet Office, which sets out specific steps to engage more with and help SMEs. This has now been published. These measures are all to ensure that SMEs have good notice of all tender opportunities and that they can compete on an equal footing for public sector contracts, helping to achieve the Government's aspiration to award 25% of Government contracts to SMEs.
	A copy of the action plan has been place in the Library and is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_127337.pdf
	Figures from the Department's central procurements database show that for the financial year just ended, 2010-11, the Department awarded 27.6% of contracts to SMEs. The Department will be monitoring the proportion of contracts awarded to SMEs over the coming year.

Health: Screening

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been seen under the NHS Health Check programme in each primary care trust area since April 2009.

Simon Burns: For 2009-10, we do not have the data requested. Based on strategic health authority (SHA) estimates, approximately one million NHS Health Check-type checks were offered to people and about 700,000 were delivered in that year.
	The programme was included in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 NHS Operating Framework, but it was for local implementation and not national performance management. This meant that primary care trusts (PCTs) could decide locally when to start implementing the programme. In addition, there have been issues with establishing a new data collection and ensuring that reporting on the programme has been accurate. We estimate that during 2010-11 approximately 1.4 million checks were offered and about 820,000 were delivered.
	In 2011-12, the programme has a supporting measure in the 2011-12 NHS Operating Framework. This has enabled us to work closely with SHAs to ensure that PCTs' plans for implementing the programme are aimed at reaching 18% of their eligible cohort and that the data they return are of better quality. This will enable the data on the number of NHS Health Checks carried out to be published on a quarterly basis from Quarter 1 of 2011-12 onwards.

Hospitals: Private Finance Initiative

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to exclude from the provisions of contracts under the private finance initiative charges to charitable organisations for the maintenance of wall-mounted items donated to NHS hospitals.

Simon Burns: Private finance initiative contracts are held between a private sector consortium and the national health service procuring authority, which incurs the charges for services delivered under the contract. It is for the NHS body to agree at a local level the affordability and value for money case of any additional charges which it may incur under the contract through working with other third-party organisations such as charitable bodies.

Medical Equipment: EU Action

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with his EU counterparts steps to improve the scrutiny of high risk medical devices.

Simon Burns: The European Commission have indicated that they intend to bring forward proposals to recast the existing medical devices directives (covering medical devices, active implantable medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices) in early 2012. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is actively involved in discussions with the Commission and other member states in advance of formal proposals being adopted.
	The Government consider that the existing regulatory framework is fundamentally sound, striking an appropriate balance between fostering innovation and ensuring patient safety. The recast is an opportunity to address issues of variability across member states; by improving the oversight of notified bodies, ensuring uniform high standards of conformity assessment and strengthening post-market surveillance, all of which will have an impact on the scrutiny of high risk medical devices.

Mental Health Services: Prisons

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department expects to spend on measures to improve the mental health of prisoners in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Paul Burstow: National health service primary care trusts have been responsible for commissioning offender health services for their offender population since 2006. Therefore, the distribution of funding for mental health services for prisoners will be determined locally by NHS primary care trusts who will take into account the needs of their offender population based on Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.
	The Government's spending review committed us to taking forward proposals to invest in mental health diversion services at police stations and courts to intervene at an early stage, diverting offenders with mental health problems away from the justice system and into treatment where appropriate. These services will be rolled out nationally over the spending review period, subject to business case approval.
	At a joint Health and Criminal Justice Programme/Revolving Doors Agency conference in March, I announced a programme of diversion pathfinder sites, supported with a £5 million investment in the coming year:
	£3 million investment in 40 adult diversion sites in 2011-12; working with 20 of these diversion pathfinders to help build the business case for diversion; and
	£2 million towards up to 60 youth sites for diversion, and extending pilots to other areas of the country.

NHS: Reorganisation

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 442W, on NHS: reorganisation, what the (a) location and (b) date was of each of the listening events he attended.

Simon Burns: As part of the listening exercise, the ministerial team, along with members of the NHS Future Forum, have visited every region in the country attending around 200 listening events, to listen to views of the public, staff and patients. The Secretary of State attended 35 of these events:
	
		
			 Number of events Date Title of meeting Location 
			 1 13 April 2011 Royal College of Nursing Congress—listening session Liverpool 
			 2 19 April 2011 Foundation Trust Network listening roundtable London 
			 3 19 April 2011 Listening meeting British Medical Association London 
			 4 20 April 2011 Listening visit—Bedford Hospital Bedford 
			 5 27 April 2011 Listening Visit to South Westminster Commissioning Consortium London 
			 6 3 May 2011 Listening event with Bishops London 
			 7 3 May 2011 Bishops Listening Event London 
			 8 3 May 2011 Listening meeting with Faculty of Public Health London 
			 9 3 May 2011 Listening Lunch with Lords Peers London 
			 10 9 May 2011 Listening meeting with Royal College of GPs London 
			 11 9 May 2011 Trade Union Listening event London 
			 12 10 May 2011 Ageing Population conference—National Council of Palliative Care—listening session London 
			 13 10 May 2011 Workforce education/leadership event—Delivering the Healthcare Workforce consultation—listening event London 
			 14 10 May 2011 Monitor listening meeting London 
			 15 11 May 2011 UK Medical Students Association—listening meeting Bournemouth 
			 16 12 May 2011 Listening Event at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital London 
			 17 12 May 2011 Clinical Fellows Event—National Leadership Council listening event London 
			 18 12 May 2011 NHS Employers Diversity Partners—listening event London 
			 19 12 May 2011 Nottinghamshire GP Principia Listening event Nottingham 
			 20 13 May 2011 Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland—Conference listening event Bournemouth 
			 21 17 May 2011 Listening event with Lords Peers London 
			 22 17 May 2011 Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprise listening meeting London 
			 23 17 May 2011 Listening Meeting for Neurological Charities London 
			 24 17 May 2011 Listening Meeting with Chief Nursing Officer nurses and Allied Health Professionals London 
			 25 17 May 2011 Listening event with Rethink Charities London 
			 26 17 May 2011 Listening session at the National Council for Palliative Care London 
			 27 18 May 2011 Kings Fund Leadership Conference—listening session London 
			 28 19 May 2011 East Anglia Cancer Network—listening session Norwich 
			 29 19 May 2011 Academy of Royal Colleges—council meeting—Listening session London 
			 30 19 May 2011 Patient listening Event with Health Charity Coalition London 
			 31 20 May 2011 Listening visit to Papworth Hospital Visit Papworth 
			 32 20 May 2011 Listening Event at University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, North West Manchester 
			 33 24 May 2011 GP Pathfinder event—listening session London 
			 34 24 May 2011 Listening event with Lords Peers London 
			 35 24 May 2011 Listening session at London wide GP commissioning council London

NHS: Reorganisation

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 442W, on NHS: reorganisation, what the (a) location and (b) date was of each of the listening events.

Simon Burns: As part of the listening exercise, the ministerial team, along with members of the NHS Future Forum, have attended around 200 listening events, to listen to views of the public, staff and patients.
	A copy of the NHS listening exercise table of events has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Reorganisation

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date officials from his Department instructed Parliamentary Counsel to draft amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill to take account of the outcome of the NHS Future Forum consultation.

Simon Burns: Ministers were actively involved in the listening exercise talking to a wide range of patients, staff and stakeholders, as well as meeting with the Future Forum members. In addition, the Future Forum leads made a number of public statements during the listening exercise about the ideas coming out of the process.
	This enabled preparatory work to be undertaken in advance of the Government's response, including exploring potential amendments with Parliamentary Counsel. Final decisions about policy changes—and subsequent amendments—were made at Cabinet on 14 June.

Oil

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil.

Simon Burns: The issues posed by peak oil will affect all sectors of the economy including the national health service. The NHS will embrace Government strategies to manage any challenges resulting in a peak oil situation. The NHS is engaged in the Government's strategy to meet the challenge of reducing and controlling the use of energy consistent with delivering high quality patient care.

Perinatal Mortality

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to reduce the incidence of perinatal mortality and stillbirth;
	(2)  pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State for Health of 18 May 2011, Official Report, column 106WH, on stillbirth, what steps he plans to take to reduce stillbirths.

Anne Milton: The Government have made reducing perinatal mortality, including stillbirth, an improvement area under domain one of the NHS Outcomes Framework for 2011-12. To support the national health service in improving outcomes in pregnancy, labour and immediately after birth, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will develop new quality standards, based on the best available evidence, on antenatal care, intrapartum care and postnatal care.
	The Department encourages early access to maternity services and has included the maternity 12-week early access indicator as one of the measures for quality in the NHS Operating Framework for 2011-12. This will facilitate the dissemination of public health advice on how to minimise the risk of stillbirth and enable those women who can be identified as being at increased risk to receive additional support and monitoring.
	The Department also continues to invest in research. A major focus of the Department's National Institute for Health Research programme on women's health is understanding the factors linked to stillbirth and to use that information to improve the clinical care of pregnant women.

Primary Care Trusts: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations were undertaken prior to the merger of Warrington primary care trust with other primary care trusts in Cheshire; where and in what form such consultations took place; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each response received to the consultations.

Simon Burns: Primary care trusts (PCTs) across England have come together to form PCT clusters to ensure that they can sustain management capacity and continue to deliver their responsibilities until PCTs are abolished in April 2013, subject to parliamentary approval of the Health and Social Care Bill.
	These clusters are not statutory bodies and do not replace PCTs, which will continue to exist. No formal consultation was required to create them but the strategic health authority engaged with key stakeholders, including writing to Members of Parliament in February 2011.

Psoriasis

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the care pathway for psoriasis patients; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the physical, mental and economic effect of psoriasis on patients who are unable to work at times due to the condition.

Paul Burstow: The Department has made no formal assessment of the impact of psoriasis on patients but it fully recognises the importance of ensuring that patients receive the right care and support. In October 2009, the Department and the Welsh Assembly Government formally requested the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to prepare a clinical guideline on psoriasis.

Respite Care: Finance

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the administration of funds for short respite breaks for carers following the proposed abolition of primary care trusts; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Department is making an additional £400 million available for carers' breaks between 2011-15.
	The “NHS Operating Framework 2011/12” states that:
	"It has not always been apparent how funding to support carers has been used in each PCT. The Spending Review has made available additional funding in PCT baselines to support the provision of breaks for carers. PCTs should pool budgets with local authorities to provide carers' breaks, as far as possible, via direct payments or personal health budgets. For 2011/12, PCTs should agree policies, plans and budgets to support carers with local authorities and local carers' organisations, and make them available to local people.”
	This funding is currently available in primary care trust (PCT) allocations. Following the abolition of PCTs in 2013, subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, we expect that the money will be held by the new Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs Advisory Committee

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to the answer to Baroness Masham of Ilton of 31 March 2011, Official Report, column WA301, on health: contaminated blood products, what measures he plans to put in place to safeguard the independence of the committee of experts which will supersede the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs from 2012;
	(2)  what plans he has for the constitution of the committee of experts which will supersede the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs from 2012;
	(3)  on what basis the programme of work will be decided for the committee of experts which will supersede the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs from 2012.

Anne Milton: The terms of reference and membership of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) will remain unchanged. SaBTO will continue to provide independent advice to United Kingdom Departments, and its work programme will continue to be set in agreement between the Health Departments and the Committee. The only change is in its designation, and by 2012 SaBTO will be designated a Department of Health expert committee.

Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in (i) Scotland, (ii) South Lanarkshire and (iii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: For financial year 2010-11 the proportion of contracts awarded by the Department to small and medium-sized businesses which supplied addresses for Scotland was 1.1%. No contracts were awarded to such businesses which supplied addresses for the areas of South Lanarkshire or Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
	To conduct a similar search and analysis for the Department's agency (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) would incur a disproportionate cost due to the nature of their information technology systems.

Southern Cross Healthcare Services: Care Homes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with (a) local authorities and (b) the Care Quality Commission on ensuring appropriate standards of care in homes run by Southern Cross; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: It is for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as regulator of health and social care services, to ensure that the care provided in all care homes meets essential standards of quality and safety. The CQC will pay particular attention to any care homes where there is a concern that quality may be at risk or inadequate.
	As I stated to the House on 16 June 2011, Official Report, column 928, I have asked the CQC to undertake additional inspections to address concerns arising from the 3,000 proposed job losses at Southern Cross.
	The Department is working closely with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association, local authorities and the CQC to ensure that contingency plans are in place which will allow for the continuation of care under any eventuality. There are frequent discussions between the parties involved.

Southern Cross Healthcare: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on Southern Cross care homes.

Paul Burstow: Departmental officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the devolved Administrations regarding this issue. I have spoken with all United Kingdom Ministers responsible for the matter to ensure a consistent and effective response across the country. We will continue to talk as the need arises.
	I last had discussions with Gwenda Thomas, AM, Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services in the Welsh Government, on 14 June 2011.

Tobacco Free Lancashire: Finance

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding from the public purse was allocated to Tobacco Free Lancashire in financial year (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12 to date.

Anne Milton: This information is not collected centrally.
	Tobacco Free Lancashire is a multi-agency group which includes representatives from primary care trusts, local authorities and fire services among others, who use their own existing resources to work on joint projects to tackle particular aspects of tobacco control locally.

Transplant Surgery

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) heart, (b) liver, (c) lung, (d) kidney and (e) other organ transplants were performed privately by each NHS foundation trust on patients from (i) the UK, (ii) the EU and (iii) outside the EU in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many NHS patients are on a waiting list for a (a) heart, (b) liver, (c) lung, (d) kidney and (e) other organ transplant.

Anne Milton: Information is not held centrally on how many organ transplants were performed privately by each NHS foundation trust.
	The number of national health service patients on the national waiting list for a heart, liver, lung, kidney and other organ transplants is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Transplant type Total 
			 Kidney 6,445 
			 Pancreas. 35 
			 Kidney/pancreas 207 
			 Pancreas islets 24 
			 Heart 129 
			 Lung 206 
			 Heart/lung 13 
			 Liver 478 
			 Other (multi-organ) 28 
			 Total 7,565 
			 Note: The table provides activity figures for the United Kingdom as at 9 June 2011 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

CABINET OFFICE

Cabinet Committees

John Spellar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions the Coalition Committee has met since May 2010.

Francis Maude: Cabinet Committee meetings enable Ministers to discuss issues freely in private in accordance with the principle of collective responsibility, and the Ministerial Code (paragraph 2.3) requires that
	“the internal process through which a decision has been made, or the level of Committee by which it was taken should not be disclosed” .
	It is therefore longstanding practice not to disclose details of the number of times each Committee has met or the issues discussed.

Death: Cancer

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of deaths from cancer in the last three years were of people who were (a) teetotallers, (b) moderate drinkers and (c) heavy drinkers.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many and what proportion of deaths from cancer were in the last three years of people who were (a) teetotallers, (b) moderate drinkers and (c) heavy drinkers. (59927)
	The table attached provides the number of deaths where cancer was the underlying cause, in England and Wales, for 2007 to 2009 (the latest year available).
	However, it is not possible to provide the specific information requested. Lifestyle and behavioural factors, such as the deceased's alcohol consumption, are not recorded in the death registration.
	The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause, marital status, and place of death are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15096
	
		
			 Table 1. Number of deaths where cancer was the underlying cause, England and Wales, 2007 to 2009  (1, 2, 3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			 2007 136,804 
			 2008 137,831 
			 2009 137,420 
			 (1) Cause of death for cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97. (2) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Departmental Manpower

Nick Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of his Department's employees categorised by (a) seniority, (b) number of employees taking voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy.

Francis Maude: The Government are committed to transparency and the availability of data and are currently exploring options for the more frequent publication of this type of work force management information across the civil service.
	Information about the Cabinet Office that is already in the public domain is published on data.gov.uk at:
	http://data.gov.uk/organogram

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress he has made on encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts.

Francis Maude: Further to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Stroud (Neil Carmichael) and the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Sajid Javid) on 13 May 2011, Official Report, column 1365W:
	By the week commencing 6 June 2011, we had published 1,477 procurement opportunities on Contracts Finder, with registrations from 1,801 supplier organisations.
	Opportunities suitable for SMEs are now being flagged on Contracts Finder.
	The Cabinet Office has either published on Contracts Finder or is preparing for publication, 100% of tenders issued since September 2010 and contracts awarded since January 2011.
	351 business proposals were submitted to the Innovation Launch Pad and have been evaluated. Those companies that submitted the top ideas will pitch their products to Government on 19 July.
	On 3 June I published on the Cabinet Office website specific action plans from all Departments to facilitate SME access to their procurement requirements:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/small-and-medium-enterprise-sme-action-plans
	The Crown Representative for SMEs, Stephen Allott, is working with Departments to plan a series of SME Product Surgeries, which will increase constructive engagement between SMEs and Government.

EU Law

Julian Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office is responsible for the following directives in force on 1 April 2010:
	Council directive 89/665/EEC of 21 December 1989 on the coordination of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the application of review procedures to the award of public supply and public works contracts;
	Council directive 92/13/EEC of 25 February 1992 coordinating the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the application of community rules on the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors;
	Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors;
	Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts.
	Directives which have simply amended the above directives have not been included separately in the list.
	The Cabinet Office is not responsible for any directives which have come into force since 1 April 2010.

Government Departments: Billing

John Denham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that Government contractors pay invoices to any subsequent subcontractors on time.

Francis Maude: The Government are determined to do everything they can to help business manage cash flow and to transform the culture of late payment. We have a target for central Government Departments to pay 80% of valid invoices within five working days of receipt.
	Since 25 March 2010, it has been mandatory for all Government Departments, agencies, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) (and the bodies over which they have direct control) to include a contract condition requiring their prime contractors to pay their tier two suppliers within 30 days.
	Furthermore, the Government’s “Guide to best ‘Fair Payment’ practices”, which applies to construction procurement, recommends best ‘Fair Payment’ principles and practices for adoption in the public sector:
	www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Guide_to_Fair_ Payment_Practices.pdf.

Life Expectancy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average life expectancy was of (a) people of Irish ethnicity and (b) the UK population calculated in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1995, (iv) 2000, (v) 2005 and (vi) 2010.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, what the average life expectancy was of (a) people of Irish ethnicity and (b) the UK population calculated in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1995, (iv) 2000, (v) 2005 and (vi) 2010. (60347)
	The table below gives the average period life expectancy at birth for males and females in the United Kingdom and in Northern Ireland.
	
		
			  United Kingdom life expectancy at birth Northern Ireland life expectancy at birth 
			  Male Female Male Female 
			 1985 71.7 77.6 70.6 76.9 
			 1990 72.9 78.4 72.1 78.0 
			 1995 74.1 79.3 73.5 78.9 
			 2000 75.3 80.1 74.8 79.8 
			 2005 76.9 81.3 76.1 81.0 
			 2010 78.5 82.4 77.6 82.2 
		
	
	The ONS does not produce life expectancy figures by ethnic group and so it is not possible to provide the average life expectancy of people of Irish ethnicity.

Life Expectancy: Older People

Alok Sharma: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average life expectancy is for people aged 65 living in (a) Reading, (b) Berkshire and (c) England.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the average life expectancy is for people aged 65 living in (a) Reading, (b) Berkshire and (c) England. (60984)
	Life expectancy figures are calculated as three-year rolling averages and are available for all current administrative areas. Figures for the historic county of Berkshire are not available. Table 1, attached, therefore provides figures for all unitary authorities within Berkshire. Figures are for 2007-09, the latest period available.
	Period life expectancies at birth and at age 65 for males and females in the UK, constituent countries, regions, counties, and local areas, from 1991-93 to 2007-09, are published on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=8841
	
		
			 Table 1: Period life expectancy at age 65  (1)  , unitary authorities within Berkshire, and England  (2)  , 2007-09  (3) 
			 Years of life 
			 Area Men Women 
			 England 18 21 
			    
			 Berkshire   
			 Reading UA 18 21 
			 Bracknell Forest UA 19 22 
			 Slough UA 19 21 
			 West Berkshire UA 19 22 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead UA 18 21 
			 Wokingham UA 20 22 
			 (1 )Period life expectancy at age 65 is an estimate of the average number of years a 65 year old would survive if he or she experienced the area's age-specific mortality rates for that time period throughout the rest of his or her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in each time period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not therefore the number of years a 65 year old living in the area in each time period could actually expect to live, both because the death rates of the area are likely to change in the future and because many of those currently living in the area will live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2010. (3) Three year rolling average, based on deaths registered in each year and mid-year population estimates.

Minimum Wage

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were paid at the rate of the national minimum wage in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 2009.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were paid at the rate of the national minimum wage in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 2009. (60973)
	Estimates for the number of employee jobs paid below the national minimum wage are not available below the regional level of disaggregation. The table below gives the information requested for the North East and the UK in April 2009 and 2010. April 2010 is the latest period for which figures are available.
	A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles can be found on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837
	
		
			 Estimates of jobs paid below the National Minimum Wage for the North East and the UK in April 2009 and April 2010 
			  2009 2010 
			  Thousand Percentage Thousand Percentage 
			 North East **13 **1.2 **11 **1.2 
			 UK 237 0.9 271 1.1 
			 Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. Key: CV <= 5% * CV >5% and <= 10% ** CV >10% and <= 20% Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics

Older Workers: Scotland

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of the workforce in Scotland that is aged over 60.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of the workforce in Scotland that is aged over 60 years. (060587)
	The proportion of economically active people in Scotland aged 60 and over was 7.4 per cent, based on Annual Population Survey (APS) for the period October 2009 to September 2010, which is the latest period for which estimates are available.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2011, Official Report, column 1173W, on the third sector, on which dates the 29 meetings his Department has convened with hon. Members and their VCSE groups took place; and which (a) hon. Members, (b) Ministers and (c) organisations were present at each meeting.

Nick Hurd: A full record of attendees at each meeting is not held centrally.

Third Sector

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) market and (b) opinion research his Department has (i) conducted and (ii) commissioned on public expectations of Government in respect of provision of public services in the context of the Big Society.

Nick Hurd: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
	Substantive answer from Nick Hurd to Bernard Jenkin:
	The Government regularly takes account of a wide range of views from across society in respect of public services, including both users and providers. This information is gathered from a number of existing sources, including market and opinion research. However, no new research on this topic has been conducted or commissioned by the Cabinet Office since the formation of this Government.
	The Open Public Services White Paper, due to be published this summer, will set out the Government's programme for public services over the next few years. The Government will consult and engage those who are or could be delivering public services about the best ways to achieve the Government's ambitions, and prioritise and pace its reforms to ensure that it balances the public's need for change with the capacity of public service providers to deliver any changes.

Unemployment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average unemployment rate of the working age population in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK was in each year since 2008.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question, asking what the average unemployment rate of the working age population in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK was in each year since 2008. (61035)
	Table 1, attached, shows the unemployment rate of persons aged 16 to 64 resident in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK, based on the Annual Population Survey (APS). Figures have been provided for the 12 month periods ending December 2008, December 2009 and September 2010, the most recent period for which figures are available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Unemployment rate in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK 
			 Percentage 
			 12 months ending December 2008 December 2009 December 2010 
			 Jarrow 5.9 7.9 11.5 
			 South Tyneside 7.2 12.7 13.3 
			 North East 7.6 9.8 9.9 
			 UK 5.8 7.8 7.8 
			 Source: Annual Population Survey 
		
	
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Unemployment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) single parents were (i) in employment and (ii) unemployed in (A) Jarrow constituency, (B) South Tyneside, (C) the North East and (D) the UK in each year since 2008.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) single parents were (i) in employment and (ii) unemployed in (A) Jarrow constituency, (B) South Tyneside, (C) the North East and (D) the UK in each year since 2008. (61036)
	Based on the Annual Population Survey (APS), Tables 1&2 show the information requested. Figures have been provided for the 12 month periods ending December 2008, December 2009 and September 2010, the most recent period for which figures are available. Figures for single parents are available only for 12 month periods ending in December 2008 and 2009. As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Employment in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK 
			 Thousand 
			  12 months ending 
			  December 2008 December 2009 September 2010 
			  Male Female Single   p  arent Male Female Single   p  arent Male Female Single   p  arent 
			 Jarrow 20 20 n/s 19 18 ****n/s ***18 ***19 (1)— 
			 South Tyneside 34 32 3 33 31 ***3 ***32 ***32 (1)— 
			 North East 612 545 47 589 537 **50 *593 *542 (1)— 
			 UK 16,764 13,452 1,068 15,421 13,374 *1,093 *15,423 *13,407 (1)— 
			 n/s = Data has not been supplied as it has been classified as unreliable. (1) Figures for single parents are only available for the 12 month periods ending in December. Note: Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Unemployment in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK 
			 Thousand 
			  12 months ending 
			  December 2008 December 2009 September 2010 
			  Male Female Single   p  arent Male Female Single   p  arent Male Female Single   p  arent 
			 Jarrow n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s ****n/s ****n/s ****n/s (1)— 
			 South Tyneside n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s ****n/s ****n/s ****n/s (1)— 
			 North East 53 41 8 74 45 ***9 **78 **45 (1)— 
			 UK 1,027 738 140 1,448 939 *172 *1,459 *932 (1)— 
			 n/s = data has not been supplied as it has been classified as unreliable. (1) Figures for single parents are only available for the 12 month periods ending in December. Note: Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey

TREASURY

Bank Services

Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an assessment of the likely effects on industry of the ending of fractional reserve banking.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 20 December 2010
	Fractional reserve banking is a term to describe how the modern banking system operates. Fractional reserve banking means that only a fraction of banks deposits are backed by actual cash on hand and available for withdrawal. A non-fractional reserve banking system would operate on the basis that where a deposit was lodged in a bank, the bank would safeguard this deposit, usually by placing in a vault. It would do nothing with the money and would charge a fee for the service.
	Banking capital requirement guidelines are set by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. In November 2010, G20 Leaders endorsed the “Basel III” reform package proposed by the Committee. The package will more than triple the amount of high quality capital banks will be required to hold, helping them to survive losses and continue to lend. Ending the fractional reserve banking system has not been considered as a viable policy option for the UK economy; no assessment of the likely effects on industry has been made.

Banks

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what requirements exist for banks to recognise deputies appointed by the Court of Protection;
	(2)  what requirements exist for banks to recognise the carers of disabled customers.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 16 February 2011
	Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers, including high street banks, must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people in the way they deliver their services. This may include allowing the carer or the deputy to act for the disabled person. Service providers must not discriminate against disabled persons as to the terms on which they offer services, by not providing the service or subjecting the disabled person to any other detriment.

Child Benefit: EU Nationals

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking with his EU counterparts to reform the payment of child benefit to non-UK EU nationals whose children live outside the UK.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire (Stephen Barclay) on 25 November 2010, Official Report, columns 444-45W.

Double Taxation: Israel

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2011, Official Report, column 325W, on double taxation: Israel, what mechanisms are in place to exclude income and company tax raised in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories or Golan Heights from the benefits of the 1962 Double Taxation Convention.

David Gauke: Claims for the benefit of the double taxation convention from persons claiming to be resident in Israel are checked to ensure that their residential address is not within the Occupied Palestinian Territories or Golan Heights.

Economic Situation

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recent report by the IMF on the state of the UK economy.

Justine Greening: holding answer 16 June 2011
	The International Monetary Fund (IMF) holds bilateral discussions with each of its member countries, usually every year, as part of its country surveillance function, under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement. IMF staff visited London in late May and early June and met with various institutions, including HM Treasury, to discuss issues relating to the economy. The IMF published the concluding statement for this Article IV consultation on 6 June. The IMF concluded that:
	“The current settings of fiscal and monetary policy remain appropriate”.
	The concluding statement can be found on the IMF's website at:
	http://www.imf.org/external/np/ms/2011/060611.htm

European Investment Bank: North Africa

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the proposals by the UN High Representative for Foreign Affairs for greater investment in North Africa from the European Investment Bank following recent political changes.

Mark Hoban: The proposals made by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs provided the European Council, meeting on 24-25 March with a sound basis for a thorough and detailed discussion of how the EU can best help the region following recent political turmoil.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the fuel duty derogation for those who refine less than 2,500 litres of biodiesel per year.

Justine Greening: The small producers' biofuel duty exemption was introduced in 2007 and continues to offer effective tax relief to low volume biofuel producers. The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review along Budget timelines.

Financial Policy Committee

Alistair Darling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the conclusions were of the informal meeting of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of England held in May 2011; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the schedule of meetings is of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of England; and if he will publish its minutes and proceedings after each meeting.

Mark Hoban: The informal meetings of the interim Financial Policy Committee (FPC) held in May 2011 were preparatory meetings for the formal interim FPC meeting held on 16 June 2011. A record of that meeting will be published on 24 June 2011.
	The interim FPC will meet at least four times a year. The next formal meeting of the interim FPC will be held in September 2011; the date of the meeting will be published on 24 June, with the record of the meeting held on 16 June. A record will be published after each formal meeting.

Financial Services Authority

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what objectives he has set for the working forum of mutual trade bodies to input collectively into the policy formulation process of the Financial Services Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: This is a matter for the Financial Services Authority and the members of the forum. I understand that the objectives for the forum will be agreed when it meets for the first time later this year.

Financial Services: City of London

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to support the competitiveness of the City of London as a financial centre.

Mark Hoban: The Government are committed to a stable, predictable and competitive environment for financial services and one favourable to business more generally.
	The Government have taken immediate action to restore tax competitiveness with a phased reduction in the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 23% over the next four years. By 2014, and based on current plans, the UK will have the 5th lowest main rate in the G20 and will maintain its position as the lowest in the G7.
	There are many factors which attract business to the UK—a robust and stable legal framework; high standards of transparency and accounting; excellent infrastructure; clustering benefits including associated business such as professional services; a deep and highly skilled talent pool; language; time zone; and quality of life.
	Ensuring that London retains its position as the preeminent international financial centre is of critical importance to the UK economy. The UK is leading the argument in the EU and internationally for robust, internationally consistent regulatory standards that will benefit the economy and make the financial sector more stable. Strong regulation and effective supervision will increase investor confidence, supporting the competitive position of the city.

Financial Services: Taxation

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of receipts from a tax on all cost conversions from one currency into another levied at (a) 0.005 per cent., (b) 0.05 per cent., (c) 0.5 per cent. and (d) 5 per cent.

Mark Hoban: There are many issues that need to be further explored around whether a currency transaction tax model offers a stable and efficient mechanism to raise revenue. These issues need to be resolved before the potential revenue could be forecast.
	The UK Government believe a financial transactions tax would need to be applied globally to prevent the relocation of financial services and are willing to engage in further international discussions of such taxes.

Government Procurement Card

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) date of purchase, (b) gross amount, (c) level 3 line item detail and (d) supplier was in respect of each transaction undertaken by the Valuation Office Agency using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.

David Gauke: Tables have been placed in the Library showing the spending by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) from the Government Procurement Cards (GPC) in 2008-09 and 2009-10. The tables list the dates of transactions, the amounts and the suppliers. VOA does not on the whole transact with suppliers with Level 3 detail transactions and any incidence of such transactions would be very small in relation to the overall number of transactions and therefore this data is only available at disproportionate cost.
	The average annual spend is less than 0.05% of the VOA's overall spending.

Inflation

Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of trends in the rate of inflation.

Justine Greening: The Government consider a range of factors when making their assessment of the UK economy. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. The OBR published a full analysis of recent developments and the prospects for growth and inflation in their forecast at Budget, which can be found online at:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/

Loans: Republic of Ireland

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which UK-based banks he received representations on financial assistance to Ireland.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

Monetary Policy

Steven Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of quantitative easing on the cost of borrowing for small businesses and consumers.

Mark Hoban: The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England is operationally independent in setting monetary policy to meet the inflation target, including bank rate and the level of asset purchases under quantitative easing (QE). The MPC takes all relevant factors, including the cost of borrowing for businesses and consumers, into account in its assessment of the balance of risks to inflation in the medium term. The Bank's May 2009 Inflation Report explains how asset purchases work to stimulate nominal spending along various channels. The Bank's analysis, for example in the Quarterly Bulletin 2011 Q1, is that QE has had a positive impact on spending by households and businesses.

National Insurance Contributions

Brian Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many occasions he has met representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses to discuss proposals to extend the national insurance contributions holiday to existing businesses with up to four employees.

David Gauke: In advance of the Budget Treasury Ministers met with a number of representative bodies to discuss issues faced by small businesses. The Federation of Small Business was one such body.

Northern Rock plc

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with UK Financial Investments on the priority to be given to the commitment in the coalition agreement to foster diversity and promote mutuals in the banking industry when evaluating options for the return of Northern Rock to the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
	The development and execution of strategies for disposing of the Government's shareholding in Northern Rock is part of UK Financial Institutions Ltd (UKFI) remit. UKFI has been looking at the full range of alternatives for divestment, and has been exploring options based on maximising value for the taxpayer, maintaining financial stability and paying due regard to promoting competition. UKFI will provide advice on the future of Northern Rock plc to the Chancellor, who will make the final decision.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), launched the sale process of Northern Rock plc on 15 June in his Mansion House speech. Any party, including mutuals are invited to enter a bid for Northern Rock. At this stage, all viable options, including remutualisation, remain available for further consideration; however, a sale is being explored as the first option.
	The Government remain committed to promoting mutuals as outlined in the coalition document.

Oil

Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil.

Justine Greening: The Government recognise the challenges of peak oil, including the analysis from leading energy organisations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA). HM Treasury engages actively with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on these matters.

Tax Avoidance

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) cost to the Exchequer and (b) potential administrative savings arising from reform and simplification of the administration of IR35 in a 12 month period; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made of the cost to the Exchequer, or the potential administrative savings arising from a change in the way HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) administer IR35. Following the recent review of the legislation by the Office of Tax Simplification, the Government announced their commitment to making clear improvements in the way IR35 is administered. HMRC has established the IR35 Forum to advise on possible changes and to monitor progress. Details about the IR35 Forum are available on HMRC’s website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/ir35forum-home.htm

Taxation: Self-assessment

Jason McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has carried out into levels of satisfaction with assistance to persons contacting HMRC with queries about self-assessment.

David Gauke: HMRC has commissioned research from TNS-BMRB to measure the customer experience of dealing with HMRC. The survey has been running since 2008 and covers customer perceptions of a recent dealing relating to self-assessment.
	The headline measure of customer experience is published quarterly on the HMRC website. A full report of HMRC and Line of Business results (2008-10) has also been published on the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/report108.pdf

UK Banks: Ireland

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent of the exposure of UK bonds to the banking and credit situation in the Republic of Ireland.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 21 December 2010
	A number of factors influence UK gilt yields and it is impossible to isolate the impact of any individual factor, including that of the banking and credit problems in the Republic of Ireland.

VAT: Channel Islands

Denis MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2011, Official Report, column 590W, on VAT: Channel Islands, whether he is taking steps to control imports of beauty products from the Channel Islands ordered over the internet.

David Gauke: All commercial imports from outside the EU, including those of beauty products from the Channel Islands, will be subject to the new restrictions announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), in his 2011 Budget statement.

VAT: Tourism

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the likely effect on the UK economy of emulating the recent decision by the Irish Government to reduce the level of value added tax on services related to tourism to 9%.

David Gauke: There are no immediate plans to assess the cost to the economy of a reduced rate of VAT for visitor attractions, accommodation and restaurants.
	All taxes are kept under review and any changes are announced by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.
	The Government are committed to supporting the tourism industry. A wide range of measures were announced, by the Department of Culture Media and Sports, in the Government's Tourism Policy in March 2011.

Working Tax Credits: Lone Parents

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of reductions in the level of tax credits on the willingness of lone parents to (a) continue working and (b) enter work.

David Gauke: It is the impact of the tax and benefit system as a whole that is important for work incentives, rather than particular aspects of the system in isolation, such as tax credits. Annex A of Budget 2011 provides information on work incentives under the current system, and how the Government's commitment to making work pay through universal credit will effect these.
	The Government will clarify and increase work incentives by introducing the universal credit over the next two Parliaments. This will replace the current complex system of means-tested working age benefits with a new simple streamlined payment. It will strengthen work incentives—work will always pay and be seen to do so. The Department of Work and Pensions have set out proposals for the universal credit in a White Paper which they published on 11 of November 2010 and can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform

Working Tax Credits: Lone Parents

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many lone parents in receipt of tax credits in each (a) region and (b) constituency will have the childcare element of such credits reduced as a result of changes to tax credits rules in 2011-12.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made.
	The reduction in the child care element is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review.
	Estimating the impact of an individual measure does not give a clear indication of the full impact on an individual household.
	The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the whole package of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf

Working Tax Credits: Lone Parents

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the future levels of debt of lone parents of reductions to the childcare element of tax credits.

David Gauke: No assessment has been made of future levels of debt as a result of reductions to the child care element of working tax credit.
	HMRC continue to monitor and forecast outstanding debt levels across all of tax credits. This includes the aggregate effect of the package announced at spending review 2010.

JUSTICE

Assets

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the monetary value was of confiscation orders made by courts in each year since 1995;
	(2)  how many confiscation orders were made by the courts in each year since 1995.

Jonathan Djanogly: Statistics on confiscation orders are only available from 2005 when a multi-government agency database was introduced to record details of all confiscation orders.
	The monetary value and number of orders granted in England and Wales from 2005 to 2010 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of order granted Total value of orders granted (£ million) 
			 2005 3,454 132 
			 2006 3,914 146 
			 2007 4,639 224 
			 2008 5,682 219 
			 2009 5,602 174 
			 2010 6,126 449 
		
	
	The orders made in 2010 include two separate orders each for £92.3 million.

Belmarsh Prison

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of the category D prisoners in Belmarsh prison awaiting transfer to an open prison have been waiting for more than four weeks.

Crispin Blunt: There are 24 Category D prisoners in Belmarsh, seven of whom have been waiting for a transfer to an open prison for more than four weeks.

Community Orders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what budget his Department has set for the two-year local payment by results schemes in Greater Manchester and London.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has set aside up to £15 million to support the introduction of payment by results over the next two years.
	In the local financial incentive pilots payments to local partners in these schemes will be made if there is a reduction in demand for Ministry of Justice's services in Greater Manchester and the participating London boroughs.
	The reduction in demand will lead to savings in Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, the National Offender Management Service and the Legal Services Commission. The pilots have been designed so that these savings will be used to fund payments.
	There will be evaluation costs for the pilots and these will be established following a competitive tendering process. These costs will be met from within the existing budget.

Community Orders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what measures of success his Department has set for the two-year local payment by results schemes in Greater Manchester and London.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice announced in the Green Paper, ‘Breaking the Cycle’, published in December 2010, that it will test a local approach to payment by results. The aim is to encourage local statutory partners to reduce crime and reoffending, and enable them to reinvest any savings that their success realises for the justice system in further activity to prevent reoffending in their communities. The pilots will be fully evaluated.
	The evaluation will describe and explain what happened during the tests, what outcomes were observed across the criminal justice system, why these may have occurred, and what aspects of the schemes were successful. The evaluation will monitor reoffending and crime rates, as well as a wider range of criminal justice system data trends, in each local area. It will use a mix of qualitative and quantitative data.

Community Orders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which organisations have been appointed as national framework providers of Community Payback services.

Crispin Blunt: Serco, Sodexo and com:pact (Mitie/A4e) were appointed to the national framework in August 2010.

Community Orders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to take steps to reduce the time between the sentencing of an offender and the commencement of that offender's Community Payback work placement.

Crispin Blunt: In December the Government set out proposals for the reform of sentencing in the Green Paper, “Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders”. This was followed by a 12 week consultation period which closed on 4 March 2011, and I am pleased to say that we received over 1,200 responses. We are considering these responses, and will set out our more detailed plans in the Government's response to the consultation, which will be published shortly.

Compensation Orders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many compensation orders were made in England and Wales in each year since 1995;
	(2)  what the monetary value was of compensation orders issued in England and Wales in each year since 1995.

Crispin Blunt: The number and total monetary value of compensation orders issued at all courts for all offences in England and Wales, 1995 to 2010, can be viewed in the table.
	
		
			 Number and total value of compensation  (1)   orders issued in all courts for all offences, 1995   to   2010  (2) 
			  Number of orders made Total value of orders made (£) 
			 1995 96,643 34,717,065 
			 1996 98,955 20,367,908 
			 1997 102,291 20,734,386 
			 1998 106,492 21,461,333 
			 1999 106,437 23,701,391 
			 2000 104,791 21,864,642 
			 2001 106,907 22,146,854 
			 2002 118,342 24,205,611 
			 2003 126,216 42,052,647 
			 2004 130,200 25,925,424 
			 2005 138,206 37,178,796 
			 2006 144,448 30,778,980 
			 2007 214,486 35,100,634 
			 2008 244,282 33,451,977 
			 2009 157,410 44,496,659 
			 2010 154,428 44,620,426 
			 (1) Including compensation orders given as second, third and fourth disposals for principal offences.  (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  Note:Revisions have been made to 2009 figures to account for the late receipt of a small number of court records.  Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice.

Compensation: Young People

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many out of court disposals for young people have been issued in each year since 1995;
	(2)  how many out of court disposals of each type there were in each year since 1995.

Jonathan Djanogly: The number of out of court disposals for young people that have been issued, and the number of out of court disposals of each type in England and Wales for the years 1995 to 2010 can be viewed in tables 1 and 2.
	Table 1 shows penalty notices for disorder issued to persons aged 16 and 17, and all ages, by offence in England and Wales 2004 (earliest available) to 2010 (latest available); and table 2 shows offenders issued with a reprimand, warning, or caution for all offences aged 10 to 17 and all ages by offence type 1995 to 2010 (latest available).
	Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring of 2012.
	
		
			 Table 1: Penalty notices for disorder issued to persons aged 16 and 17, and all ages, by offence, England and Wales  ,   2004 to 2010  (1) 
			 Number issued 
			 Ages 16 to   17 
			 Offence description 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Higher tier offences (£80)        
			 Wasting police time 69 215 353 327 254 212 157 
			 Misuse of public telecommunications system 6 24 79 106 88 45 53 
			 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority 8 6 15 15 7 9 7 
			 Causing harassment, alarm or distress(2) 1,968 5,846 8,122 7,068 4,673 3,199 2,174 
			 Throwing fireworks 20 90 101 102 82 57 55 
			 Drunk and disorderly 1328 2,354 3,009 2,941 2,538 2,244 1,710 
			 Criminal damage (under £500)(2) 103 1,408 2,866 2,796 1,815 1,241 659 
			 Theft (retail under £200)(2) 167 1,806 3,861 4,474 4,040 3,817 2,682 
			 Breach of fireworks curfew 0 4 7 3 3 0 2 
			 Possession of category 4 firework 3 2 6 5 6 2 3 
			 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework 18 42 69 106 57 53 47 
			 Sale of alcohol to drunken person(3) 0 2 1 1 2 2 0 
			 Supply of alcohol to a person under 18(3) 0 0 5 1 2 4 1 
			 Sale of alcohol to a person under 18 6 79 91 77 42 40 30 
			 Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18 4 20 45 51 33 22 18 
			 Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18 for consumption on the premises 3 21 17 13 10 15 4 
			 Delivery of alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery 1 20 24 36 23 9 11 
			 Possession of Cannabis (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 148 163 
			         
			 Lower tier offences (£50)        
			 Trespassing on a railway 17 73 256 291 257 240 196 
			 Throwing stones at a train/railway 2 5 4 10 8 8 6 
			 Drunk in a highway 31 103 149 106 57 31 13 
			 Consumption of alcohol in a designated public place 20 56 136 172 126 87 31 
			 Depositing and leaving litter 11 185 253 301 241 181 119 
			 Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises 7 74 67 85 31 19 9 
			 Allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 
			 Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18(3) 0 17 62 158 100 52 42 
			         
			 Total        
			 Total higher tier offences 3,704 11,939 18,671 18,122 13,675 11,119 7,776 
			 Total lower tier offences 89 515 927 1,124 822 618 416 
			         
			 Total all offences 3,793 12,454 19,598 19,246 14,497 11,737 8,192 
		
	
	
		
			 Number issued 
			 All years 
			 Offence description 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Higher tier offences (£80)        
			 Wasting police time 1,171 2,525 3,933 3,966 3,443 3,109 2,852 
			 Misuse of public telecommunications system 117 405 909 1,193 888 747 696 
			 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority 44 92 106 96 77 80 59 
			 Causing harassment, alarm or distress(2) 28,790 64,007 82,235 77,827 57,773 43,338 32,317 
			 Throwing fireworks 177 642 682 649 531 353 340 
			 Drunk and disorderly 26,609 37,038 43,556 46,996 44,411 43,570 37,119 
			 Criminal Damage (under £500)(2) 1,190 12,168 20,620 19,946 13,427 10,145 6,253 
			 Theft (retail under £200)(2) 2,072 21,997 38,772 45,146 45,616 48,161 40,170 
			 Breach of fireworks curfew 12 33 53 39 23 15 23 
			 Possession of category 4 firework 12 13 28 22 23 56 22 
			 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework 20 47 76 106 67 59 61 
			 Sale of alcohol to drunken person(3) 0 32 47 81 66 90 74 
			 Supply of alcohol to a person under 18(3) 0 3 60 54 83 104 59 
			 Sale of alcohol to a person under 18 113 2,058 3,195 3,583 2,824 3,002 2,098 
			 Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18 18 170 407 555 524 429 330 
		
	
	
		
			 Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18 for consumption on the premises 66 83 60 64 50 46 33 
			 Delivery of alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery 20 209 297 431 286 190 120 
			 Possession of Cannabis (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 11,491 13,916 
			         
			 Lower tier offences (£50)        
			 Trespassing on a railway 96 220 1,042 1,527 1,468 1,552 1,454 
			 Throwing stones at a train/railway 66 20 15 25 27 21 11 
			 Drunk in a highway 2,497 3,138 2,712 2,066 1,438 999 758 
			 Consumption of alcohol in a designated public place 485 712 1,061 1,544 1,761 1,596 1,036 
			 Depositing and leaving litter 51 737 1,169 1,374 1,202 1,148 903 
			 Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises 7 84 75 85 36 27 14 
			 Allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises 6 27 14 11 6 4 3 
			 Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18(3) 0 21 73 158 114 61 48 
			         
			 Total        
			 Total higher tier offences 60,431 141,522 195,036 200,754 170,112 164,985 136,542 
			 Total lower tier offences 3,208 4,959 6,161 6,790 6,052 5,408 4,227 
			         
			 Total all offences 63,639 146,481 201,197 207,544 176,164 170,393 140,769 
			 (1 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2 )Offence is a notifiable offence included within OBTJ figures. (3) Offence is a recordable offence as of 1 December 2005. PND offence not introduced at this time. (4 )Commenced from 26 January 2009. Note: PND (penalty notice for disorder) data are a count of all penalty notices for disorder issued during the year. Penalty notices for disorder came into force in November 2004.  Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2  : Offenders issued with a reprim  and, warning, or caution  (1,2)  aged 10 to 17, and all ages by offence type 1995   to   2010  (3) 
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
			 Aged 10 to 17         
			 Reprimand/warning(alloffences) 120,561 113,065 104,520 109,725 103,978 97,541 98,042 86,589 
			          
			 All ages         
			 Cautionedbyoffencetype         
			 Violence against the person(4) 20,436 21,819 23,641 23,483 21,233 19,875 19,568 23,606 
			 Sexual offences(5) 2,226 2,007 1,904 1,706 1,450 1,282 1,226 1,185 
			 Burglary 10,467 10,154 9,407 8,372 7,689 6,601 6,396 5,771 
			 Robbery 583 631 657 620 576 621 548 408 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 104,894 93,637 82,789 83,602 75,443 67,588 63,477 54,214 
			 Fraud and forgery 7,879 7,502 7,156 7,402 7,205 6,180 5,764 5,335 
			 Criminal damage 3,847 3,149 2,765 2,746 3,003 3,219 3,366 3,102 
			 Drug offences 48,230 47,472 56,028 58,734 49,350 41,104 39,424 44,922 
			 Other indictable offences(4,5) 4,023 4,440 5,012 5,059 4,630 4,429 4,161 4,389 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 88,662 95,387 92,734 96,170 95,553 88,088 85,930 82,426 
			 Total 291,247 286,198 282,093 287,894 266,132 238,987 229,860 225,358 
		
	
	
		
			  2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Aged 10 to 17         
			 Reprimand/warning(alloffences) 91,933 105,008 118,878 129,061 127,326 98,175 78,679 52,989 
			          
			 All ages         
			 Cautionedbyoffencetype         
			 Violence against the person(4) 28,760 36,610 51,017 57,271 52,329 37,880 27,305 21,871 
			 Sexual offences(5) 1,346 1,540 1,741 1,914 1,947 1,681 1,478 1,364 
			 Burglary 5,568 5,604 6,451 7,687 6,972 5,407 4,398 3,484 
			 Robbery 422 451 622 712 614 382 205 207 
		
	
	
		
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 54,466 61,944 67,619 72,369 72,790 64,047 60,730 47,538 
			 Fraud and forgery 5,484 6,036 6,936 8,024 8,587 8,263 7,210 6,126 
			 Criminal damage 3,726 5,495 7,246 9,018 8,813 7,873 6,419 5,075 
			 Drug offences 45,707 32,621 34,390 37,426 43,050 47,038 43,808 40,721 
			 Other indictable offences(4,5) 5,270 5,970 6,912 9,388 9,996 8,609 7,982 7,155 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 91,057 99,497 116,011 146,168 157,797 146,712 131,110 109,290 
			 Aged 10 to 17 241,806 255,768 298,945 349,977 362,895 327,892 290,645 242,831 
			 (1) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. (2 )The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When an offender has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Standardisation of offence groups—‘concealment of birth’, will be included in the offence group ‘other indictable offences’, moving from ‘violence against the person’; changing the classification of an offence committed by approximately five defendants each year. (5) Standardisation of offence groups—‘bigamy’, will be included in the offence group ‘other indictable offences’, moving from ‘sexual offences’, changing the classification of an offence committed by approximately 20 defendants each year. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Courts

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many cases in (a) magistrates courts and (b) the Crown court were awaiting trial on 1 January of each year since 1995;
	(2)  how many cases (a) magistrates courts and (b) the Crown court received in each year since 1995.

Jonathan Djanogly: The total number of cases received by the Crown court and the number of trial cases outstanding at the end of year, in England and Wales, from 1995 to 2010 are provided in the following table.
	Information on cases received and cases awaiting trial in the magistrates courts can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since 2009 information on cases received is collected on central systems, but cannot be readily extracted and collated at the present time due to the way the data are held. The available statistics on magistrates court workloads relates to the number of criminal proceedings completed. Figures for all magistrates courts in England and Wales from 2008 to 2010 are also presented in the table. Statistics are not available prior to April 2007 on a comparable basis due to changes in the data collection method. Information regarding the number of cases awaiting trial is also not available since it is not collected centrally and could be obtained from court files only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Table 1.   N  umber of cases received and trials outstanding in the Crown court, and completed criminal proceedings in the magistrates courts, England and Wales, 1995 to 2010  (6) 
			  Total number of cases received in the Crown court  (1) Total number of trial cases received in the Crown court  (2) Total number of trial cases outstanding at the end of each year Total number of criminal proceedings completed in the magistrates courts  (4,5) 
			 1995 118,144 81,186 24,993 — 
			 1996 114,311 83,328 25,048 — 
			 1997 122,250 91,110 25,916 — 
			 1998 121,867 75,815 23,853 — 
			 1999 121,573 74,232 24,624 - 
			 2000(3) 112,504 72,420 25,098 — 
			 2001 120,023 81,968 29,686 — 
			 2002 125,074 85,052 31,495 — 
			 2003 126,390 84,944 32,279 — 
			 2004 122,062 79,476 29,812 — 
			 2005 124,313 79,214 33,246 — 
			 2006 126,991 77,557 33,853 — 
			 2007 136,434 82,881 33,987 — 
			 2008 145,715 90,040 36,312 2,031,140 
			 2009 150,711 97,707 39,898 1,912,632 
			 2010(6) 150,666 96,927 36,363 1,797,348 
			 (1) Receipts in the Crown court include committals direct from the magistrates court, bench warrants executed (trial and sentence only) and cases transferred in, less cases transferred out. (2) Sent for trial cases under s51 CDA 1998 were introduced nationally on 15 January 2001 before this figures are from the pilot programme, resulting in an increase in the number of trials received in the Crown court in 2001. (3) Crown court statistics before 2000 were obtained from CREST via our historical database. (4) Criminal proceedings completed in the magistrates courts includes indictable only cases, triable either-way cases, summary motoring, summary non-motoring, youth proceeding and breaches. These figures are based on the number of completed proceedings. (5 )Magistrates courts changed their data collection systems from legacy systems to Libra during this time. Statistics are not available prior to April 2007 on a comparable basis due to changes in the data collection method, so figures for 2007 are not provided. (6) The figures for 2010 are provisional; revised statistics will be published in ‘Judicial and Court Statistics’ on 30 June 2011. Source: HMCTS CREST system and Completed Proceedings, HMCTS Performance Database (‘OPT’)

Crown Courts

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases destined for the Crown court which involved the submission of a guilty plea received a reduction in the sentence handed down of (a) up to 10%, (b) up to 25% and (c) up to one third in each year since 1995.

Crispin Blunt: Information about the extent to which sentences in individual cases are reduced by reason of a guilty plea is not recorded centrally.
	The number of persons sentenced for indictable offences at the Crown court, broken down by plea, immediate custody and average sentence length, in England and Wales, 1995 to 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the table.
	Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring of 2012.
	
		
			 Persons sentenced  (1)   for indictable offences at the Crown court: Plea  (2)  , immediate custody and average sentence length, England and Wales, 1995to   2010  (3,4) 
			 Number of persons, percentages and average sentence length (months) 
			  Total number sentenced Immediate custody Average length of sentence  (5) 
			  Guilty plea Not guilty plea Percentage pleading guilty Guilty plea Percentage of guilty pleas Not guilty plea Percentage of not guilty pleas Guilty plea Not guilty plea 
			 1995(6) 25,860 5,870 81.5 14,418 55.8 3,839 65.4 19.3 33.5 
			 1996 54,777 11,869 82.2 32,505 59.3 8,162 68.8 20.6 34.1 
			 1997 59,207 11,592 83.6 34,727 58.7 8,163 70.4 21.1 36.6 
			 1998 48,583 10,807 81.8 27,793 57.2 7,580 70.1 21.6 36.8 
			 1999 44,578 10,226 81.3 26,447 59.3 7,262 71.0 22.5 38.1 
			 2000 43,968 9,864 81.7 26,526 60.3 7,219 73.2 22.9 37.1 
			 2001 43,941 9,765 81.8 26,420 60.1 7,033 72.0 24.4 38.9 
			 2002 47,064 9,973 82.5 27,975 59.4 7,263 72.8 25.9 41.6 
			 2003 47,627 9,297 83.7 27,013 56.7 6,550 70.5 26.2 44.4 
			 2004 48,249 9,348 83.8 27,732 57.5 6,798 72.7 26.3 44.9 
			 2005 46,844 8,700 84.3 26,545 56.7 6,173 71.0 26.0 43.3 
			 2006 46,854 8,668 84.4 25,516 54.5 6,026 69.5 25.3 42.5 
			 2007 52,667 8,723 85.8 28,718 54.5 5,822 66.7 24.2 42.2 
			 2008 58,318 8,825 86.9 32,629 56.0 6,174 70.0 24.7 45.9 
			 2009(7) 64,485 8,835 88.0 35,847 55.6 6,108 69.1 24.3 47.1 
			 2010 69,896 9,471 88.1 36,697 52.5 6,346 67.0 24.3 46.8 
			 (1) Excludes offenders convicted at magistrates courts and committed for sentence at the Crown court.  (2) Final plea recorded on completion of trial.  (3) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (5) Excludes life and indeterminate sentences.  (6) Plea data are only available from 1 July 1995.  (7) Revisions have been made to 2009 figures to account for the late receipt of a small number of court records.  Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. Ref: PQ 59908 (Table) (Data for 1995 to 2005 taken from 2005 sentencing publication Table 2.19, Data for 2006 to 2010 taken from sas run).

Crown Courts

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  in what proportion of cases destined for the Crown court a guilty plea was entered (a) after the announcement of a trial date and (b) at the door of the court in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of young people pleaded guilty on a first appearance in court in each year since 1995;
	(3)  how many cases in the Crown court ended in a guilty plea in each year since 1995.

Jonathan Djanogly: Of the Crown court cases listed for trial in 2010, around 39% ended on the trial date before the jury was sworn (no further trial time required) due to a defendant entering a late guilty plea or pleading guilty to an alternative charge which was accepted by the prosecution. Information on the proportion of Crown court cases listed for trial that resulted in a guilty plea being entered after the announcement of a trial date can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost as the announcement date is not held centrally.
	The proportion of youth defendants who pleaded guilty at first hearing in the magistrates courts in England and Wales from 1995 to 2010 is shown in Table 1.
	Table 2 contains the number of cases in the Crown court that ended in a guilty plea in each of the years from 1995 to 2010. A case is treated as a guilty plea only if pleas of guilty are recorded in respect of all defendants involved. A guilty plea is recorded when a defendant: (i) pleads guilty to all counts; (ii) pleads guilty to some counts and not guilty to others and no jury is sworn in respect of the not guilty counts; and (iii) pleads not guilty to some or all counts but offers a guilty plea to alternatives which are accepted (providing no jury is sworn in respect of the other counts).
	
		
			 Table 1: Youth defendants pleading guilty at first hearing in the magistrates court, England and Wales, 1995 to 2010  (1,2) 
			  Proportion of youth defendants where initial guilty plea given (%) 
			 1995 24 
			 1996 26 
			 1997 24 
			 1998 28 
			 1999(3,4) 34 
			 2000(5) 37 
			 2001 38 
			 2002 37 
			 2003 39 
			 2004 41 
			 2005 44 
			 2006 44 
			 2007 46 
			 2008 55 
			 2009 57 
			 2010 56 
			 (1) From the June 2008 survey, the youth data is collected from the four-week sample via a web-based method of collecting TIS data called the One Performance Truth (OPT) (the pre-existing method of youth data collection has been available up until March 2009). Using this method has brought a number of improvements, including validation of the data ‘live’ as it is entered, collection of data at court level rather than clerkship level (as previously done). (2) A youth defendant is classified as being aged 10 to 17 on the date when an offence was alleged to have been committed. (3) From 1995 to 1998 data were collected based on the number of defendants appearing in either adult or youth courts. From 1999 onwards defendant details were collected specifically, therefore allowing the identification of youth cases listed in adult courts as well as those appearing in a youth court. As this may partly explain the increase in the proportion of those pleading guilty at the first hearing, caution should be applied when interpreting the figures shown in the table and comparing them with subsequent years' results. (4) From 1995 to 1998, the results are based on completed criminal proceedings in one sample week in February, June and October. From 1999 onwards, information on youth defendants in all criminal completed proceedings was collected in a four week period. (5) From the February 2000 survey, there is now one survey in each quarter. The results are now based on March, June, September and December surveys. Source: Time Intervals Survey (TIS) 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of cases  (1)   in the Crown court that ended in a guilty plea, England and Wales, 1995 to 2010  (2,3,4,5) 
			  Number of guilty plea cases 
			 1995 49,900 
			 1996 48,600 
			 1997 53,500 
			 1998 41,900 
			 1999 37,900 
			 2000 37,000 
			 2001(6) 36,700 
			 2002 40,200 
			 2003 41,900 
			 2004 42,200 
			 2005 41,600 
			 2006 45,300 
			 2007 50,700 
			 2008 56,100 
			 2009 61,900 
		
	
	
		
			 2010 65,800 
			 (1) Includes cases which can be heard in either a magistrates court or the Crown court (a defendant can elect to be tried in the Crown court or a magistrate can decide that a case is sufficiently serious that it should be dealt with in the Crown court); and cases sent for trial by the magistrates court because they can only be heard by the Crown court. (2) The reporting period is defined by the date on which the defendants involved were dealt with. (3) A guilty plea is recorded when a defendant: (i) pleads guilty to all counts; (ii) pleads guilty to some counts and not guilty to others and no jury is sworn in respect of the not guilty counts; and (iii) pleads not guilty to some or all counts but offers a guilty plea to alternatives which are accepted (providing no jury is sworn in respect of the other counts). (4) A case is treated as a guilty plea only if pleas of guilty are recorded in respect of all defendants involved. (5) The figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. (6) Sent for trial cases under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 were introduced nationally on 15 January 2001. Source: HM Courts and Tribunals Service CREST system

Custody: Young People

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will initiate a review into the deaths in custody of five adults aged between 18 and 21 in the last four months;
	(2)  how many of the young adults who died in custody in the last four months received full mental health assessments while in custody;
	(3)  how many of the young adults who have died in custody in the last four months were being handled under the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork care planning system prior to their deaths.

Crispin Blunt: Every death in prison is a tragedy, and affects families, staff and other prisoners deeply. Ministers and the Ministry of Justice including the National Offender Management Service are committed to learning from such events in reducing the number of self-inflicted deaths in prison custody.
	All deaths in prison are subject to a police investigation and an independent investigation by the prisons and probation ombudsman, and a coroner's inquest is held before a jury. Until these investigations are complete I am unable to comment on the detail of any of these cases.

Custody: Young People

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he proposes any assessment of the effects of mixing young adults in custody with the adult prison population.

Crispin Blunt: Young adults sentenced to detention in a young offender institution (DYOI) are detained in young offender institutions (YOIs) as required by section 98 of the Powers of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. These are normally self-contained but in some instances are situated within an adult prison with which they share the majority of their facilities. Whatever the location, young adults detained in YOIs have separate sleeping accommodation and are always managed in accordance with the YOI rules. My officials are monitoring any effects of co-locating young adults with the adult prison population.

Departmental Manpower

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many members of staff his Department and its agencies have recruited since May 2010.

Crispin Blunt: Currently, a recruitment freeze is in place, which affects all external recruitment into the civil service, with exemptions allowed for business critical and frontline posts. The Fast Stream graduate programme is also exempt. For the period 1 May 2010 to 30 April 2011 the Ministry of Justice and its agencies, including the National Offender Management Service, recruited 3,272 new members of staff to frontline and business critical posts. In addition, 596 new members were recruited from other Government Departments.
	The Ministry both recruits people in line with the Civil Service Commissioners recruitment principles and is committed to recruitment on merit through fair and open competition.

Departmental Pensions

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) civil servants and (b) office holders of his Department at each grade have pension pots (i) currently valued and (ii) projected to be valued on retirement at more than (A) £1 million and (B) £1.5 million.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has information in respect of cash equivalent transfer values (CETVs) for civil servants that are board members only. These are disclosed in the Remuneration Report in the annual Ministry of Justice Resource Accounts (of which a copy for the financial year 2009-10 can be found in the Library of the House and on the Ministry of Justice website). Projected values are not reported.
	The Department does not hold information on CETVs for all its civil servants. This information can be obtained only by writing to the individual's Authorised Pension Administration Centre and obtaining this would involve disproportionate cost.

Drugs

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding his Department and its predecessors allocated to mandatory drug testing in each year since 1995.

Crispin Blunt: A recent costing exercise estimated that the cost to the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) of mandatory drug testing (MDT) was approximately £5.3 million in 2010. This includes staff time to collect urine samples from prisoners and the laboratory costs for the analysis of those samples.
	Similar estimates for other years between 1995 and 2011 have not been undertaken.
	The figures presented in this answer have been collected from management information held centrally in NOMS, data returns from prison establishments, regional offices and/or fieldwork carried out as part of the costing programme. The accuracy of the data, which is not subject to audit, cannot be guaranteed.

Drugs: Alcoholic drinks

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research from (a) the UK and (b) abroad his Department has (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated on the effectiveness of payment by results models in tackling drug and alcohol dependency.

Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply.
	We are aware of other approaches to payment by results, such as in the United States and have considered the evidence and engaged colleagues.
	Although tackling drugs and alcohol dependency is a challenging area in which to deliver payments by results, that does not mean we should not aim to make improvements for this group. This is exactly why we are piloting it and ensuring the detail is designed in partnership with the pilot areas.
	The drug recovery payment by results programme of piloting will be subject to robust independent evaluation commissioned by the Department. A competitive tendering process for this is currently underway, closing on 21 June 2011, details available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prp-ccf

Drugs: Females

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to develop intensive community-based drug treatment options for women offenders.

Paul Burstow: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department of Health, Ministry of Justice and the Home Office, are exploring how the provision of residential and other intensive treatment in the community can help those offenders with drug dependence or mental health problems. It is anticipated that a range of interventions will be required, varying in intensity, and would need to form part of a graduated response to what is provided in the community for different levels of need.

Drugs: Offences

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of those serving custodial sentences had been convicted of offences related to drugs in each year since 1995.

Crispin Blunt: Available information on the immediate custodial population as a proportion of those convicted of offences related to drugs in England and Wales from 1995 to 2010 (latest available) can be found in the tables.
	These figures are taken from published tables within the Statistical bulletins ‘Offender Management Caseload Statistics, England and Wales’ for the years 1995-2009 and the ‘Offender Management Statistics annual tables 2010’, available via these links:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbarchive.html
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation/oms-quartlery.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			 Population in prison under immediate custodial sentence and proportion serving a sentence for drug offences, England and Wales, 1995-2010 
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
			 Drug offences 4,256 5,755 7,174 7,893 8,169 8,473 9,148 10,067 10,330 
			 Total population 38,863 42,914 48,674 52,159 51,293 53,093 54,169 57,272 59,393 
			 Proportion (percentage) 11.0 13.4 14.7 15.1 15.9 16.0 16.9 17.6 17.4 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2009  (1) 2010 
			 Drug offences 10,486 10,661 10,647 10,613 10,982 10,696 10,420 11,064 
			 Total population 60,924 62,179 63,404 65,533 68,124 68,375 68,461 70,871 
			 Proportion (percentage) 17.2 17.1 16.8 16.2 16.1 15.6 15.2 15.6 
			 (1) Due to the introduction of a new prison IT system the 2010 prison population data is taken from a different source. The 2009 figures from both the old and new system have been presented to aid comparison. Note: These figures have been drawn from large administrative data systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Legal Costs

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the merits of early intervention to prevent civil disputes about money and debt becoming matters for litigation.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government's vision is for people to resolve their disputes at an early stage, ideally before entering the court process and before the costs of litigation escalate.
	Early engagement is reflected in the rules of court, the Civil Procedure Rules, and in a range of pre-action protocols, which encourage early engagement and settlement where possible. Despite this, creditors often have to resort to court action because of a lack of debtor engagement for dealing with disputes including money, debt and other issues. Cases fall into the court system often for the wrong reasons, sometimes because people are unaware of alternatives or have not used the advice services that are available to help resolve disputes. To assist with resolving cases that have reached court without the need for further costs, county courts display notices giving the contact details of free advice providers.
	The Ministry of Justice is currently consulting on a range of proposals for reforming the civil justice system, that include a greater role for alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as mediation, as well as encouraging earlier settlement through a more robust pre-action procedure. The consultation closes on 30 June.

Life Imprisonment

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people received indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection in each year since 2003.

Crispin Blunt: The number of persons sentenced to an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection in England and Wales, 2005 to 2010 can be viewed in the following table.
	Sentences of imprisonment for public protection were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on 4 April 2005. IPPs were therefore not available in 2003 and 2004.
	
		
			 Persons sentenced to immediate custody and the number of indeterminate sentences for all offences, England   and Wales 2005-10 
			 England and Wales 
			 Persons given immediate custody and sentence length 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009  (1) 2010 
			 All offences       
			 Total persons sentenced 1,473,275 1,412,940 1,406,788 1,353,937 1,398,278 1,357,600 
			 Number given immediate custody 101,236 96,017 95,206 99,525 100,231 101,513 
			        
			 Percentage given immediate custody (%) 6.9 6.8 6.8 7.4 7.2 7.5 
			        
			 Indeterminate sentence(2) 426 1,448 1,707 1,538 1,001 1,019 
			 (1) Revisions have been made to 2009 figures to account for the late receipt of a small number of court records. (2) Sentences of imprisonment for public protection introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on 4 April 2005.

Life Imprisonment

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoners serving indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection have served the minimum term under their sentence;
	(2)  how many prisoners serving indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection which were handed down before the implementation of changes introduced in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 have served the minimum term under their sentence;
	(3)  what the average minimum sentence handed down to prisoners given indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection was (a) before and (b) after the implementation of the changes introduced by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.

Crispin Blunt: Based on data on 17 November 2010, the number of prisoners who are serving indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) and have passed their tariff expiry date is 3,174. The number of prisoners serving an IPP sentence who have not passed their tariff expiry date is 3,119. A further 41 prisoners were serving an IPP where their tariff expiry date is not yet recorded.
	The number of prisoners serving an IPP sentence imposed before the implementation of the changes introduced in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (CJIA08), on 14 July 2008, and have passed their tariff expiry date is 3,026.
	The average tariff length for IPPs imposed before and after the CJIA08 implementation is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Average tariff (years) 
			 Pre CJ1A08 implementation 3 
			 Post CJAI08 implementation 4 
		
	
	These data include prisoners serving an IPP sentence in prison and secure hospitals but exclude those who have been recalled to custody following release. The average length of tariff data included in the table does not include time served on remand.

National Offender Management Services: Managers

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many managers at grade C or above have left the employment of (a) his Department and (b) the National Offender Management Service in the last two financial years; and how many of those managers have subsequently been employed by Sodexo;
	(2)  how many managers at grade C or above have left the employment of (a) his Department and (b) the National Offender Management Service in the last two financial years; and how many of those managers have subsequently been employed by Reliance;
	(3)  how many managers at grade C or above have left the employment of (a) his Department and (b) the National Offender Management Service in the last two financial years; and how many of those managers have subsequently been employed by Mitie.

Crispin Blunt: The grading structure in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) differs from the rest of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The definition of grade C is different in each case. Senior Manager C in NOMS refers to a more senior responsibility level than a Band C in MOJ. The equivalent of a Senior Manager C within MOJ is Band A. It is this level for which information is supplied in the answer.
	The number of senior managers (Bands A and above) that left the MOJ between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2011 was 348. The number of senior managers (Senior Manager C and above) that left NOMS during the same period was 109. Of these, 38 staff were operational grades.
	The MOJ and NOMS do not keep records of employment taken up by former staff after they have left. NOMS is however aware that a small number of senior managers resigned in 2010 to take up posts in the private sector, including the Governors of Holloway, Whitemoor, Moorland and the Isle of Wight prisons. One former Director of Offender Management also took up an appointment with Sodexo in May 2011. There may have been others who joined private sector providers but there is no requirement for those leaving to advise the Department or agency of their future employment plans, save for any obligations under the Business Appointment Rules. These rules were applied in the appointment of the former Director of Offender Management with Sodexo.

Police Cautions

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the outcomes of his Department's pilots on the availability of punitive conditions to police forces and prosecutors as part of a conditional caution.

Crispin Blunt: The outcomes of the pilots are not yet available. We consulted on the availability of punitive conditions as part of the Green Paper “Breaking the Cycle”. We are considering the responses we received to the Green Paper consultation and will be publishing our plans shortly.

Prison Sentences: Methadone

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what proportion of persons in custody with sentences of (a) up to three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six and 12 months, (d) between one and two years, (e) between two and five years, (f) between five and 10 years and (g) 10 years and over were in receipt of methadone in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of those serving a custodial sentence were in receipt of methadone in each year since 1995.

Crispin Blunt: The requested information on the proportion of persons in custody receiving methadone by length of sentence is not routinely collated and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by analysing prisoner records and disaggregating information which may be held on local data systems.
	Data is available on the number of clinical drug interventions provided in prisons for drug dependency since 2007-08. There is no collated data prior to 2007.
	In 2007-08, a total of 58,809 prisoners received a clinical drug intervention. Of these, 12,518 (21%) received a maintenance prescription for opioid dependency of either methadone or buprenorphine.
	In 2008-09, a total of 64,767 prisoners received a clinical drug intervention. Of these 19,632 (31%) received a maintenance prescription for opioid dependency of either methadone or buprenorphine.
	In 2009-10, a total of 60,067 prisoners received a clinical drug intervention. Of these 23,744 (39%) received a maintenance prescription for opioid dependency of either methadone or buprenorphine.(1)
	(1) NOMS Performance Data

Prisoners

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to the public purse of an adult prisoner in England and Wales was in the last 12 months.

Crispin Blunt: For the purpose of this answer, an adult prisoner is taken to be a prisoner held in an “adult” establishment, i.e. any prison that is not a young offender institution (which hold prisoners up to age 21). The overall average resource cost per prisoner held in an adult establishment in England and Wales for 2009-10 is £39,000. The average resource cost per place is £43,000. This is the latest period for which figures are available. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.
	The costs represent the total cost per place/prisoner at each prison where the majority use at the end of each year was for adults. There is no adjustment for prisons holding prisoners both above and below age 21.
	The overall average resource cost comprises the direct local establishment costs of public and private prisons, increased by an apportionment of relevant costs borne centrally and in the regions by NOMS. This involves some estimation. The figures do not include the cost of prisoners held in police or court cells under Operation Safeguard, or expenditure met by other Government Departments (e.g. Health and Education). Prisoner escort service costs are included.
	Cost per prison place is expressed in terms of the Baseline Certified Normal Accommodation number of places.

Prisoners’ Release: Sexual Offences

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice at what stage of the process of release on licence of a sexual offender to approved premises the relevant local authority is notified; at what stage a meeting of the local Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) team is convened; and at what stage MAPPA is statutorily required to (a) have a representative at relevant meetings and (b) conduct an assessment of the risk to local public safety posed by a given offender.

Crispin Blunt: Section 325(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) requires the responsible authority in each area (the police, probation and prison services acting jointly) to make arrangements for assessing and managing the risks posed by violent and sexual offenders. Further to this, section 325(3) of the 2003 Act requires the responsible authority to act in co-operation with the persons specified in section 325(6); and requires those persons to co-operate with the responsible authority. The list of persons in section 325(6) includes local authority representatives.
	The detail of these arrangements for risk assessment, risk management and co-operation is set out in guidance issued to responsible authorities by the Secretary of State under section 325(8) of the 2003 Act. Under this guidance, the risk posed by sexual offenders must be assessed, and a MAPPA meeting convened, at least six months before the offender is due to be released on licence. Where release to an approved premises, or to local authority accommodation, is being considered, the responsible authority will invite the relevant local authority representatives to the initial MAPPA meeting and to subsequent review meetings.

Prisoners’ Release: Sexual Offences

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure that Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements teams make the appropriate arrangements with regard to placement of sexual offenders in approved premises.

Crispin Blunt: The decision to place a sexual offender in approved premises is taken by the Probation Trust which has statutory responsibility for supervising the offender, in consultation with the other local agencies involved in MAPPA and the manager of the relevant approved premises. The primary consideration is whether the risk of harm posed by the offender to others would be most effectively managed by the enhanced supervision provided in an approved premises. The decision to admit an offender to a particular approved premises is based upon an assessment of the risk of serious harm posed by the offender to the public, victims, and other residents or staff.
	The Probation Trust may also ask for particular licence conditions to be imposed, in the case of a determinate sentence prisoner from the governor of the releasing prison and in the case of an indeterminate sentence prisoner from the Parole Board. Such licence conditions might include a requirement to comply with electronic monitoring and a requirement to stay away from specified places.
	For the majority of sexual offenders who have served the custodial part of their sentence and have to be released into the community, it is better in public protection terms that they are placed in an approved premises immediately on release from custody rather than in other less suitable accommodation in the community, which is the only alternative.

Prisoners: Drugs

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prisoners subject to random mandatory drug testing tested positive in (a) each year from 1995 to 2010 and (b) 2011 to date.

Crispin Blunt: Mandatory drug testing (MDT) records held centrally are anonymous. For this reason data relating to the proportion of prisoners testing positive is not available. Available instead is the proportion of MDT samples that have tested positive.
	The following table gives the percentage of random MDT samples that have tested positive in each financial year since 1995.
	
		
			 Random mandatory drug testing 1995   to   2011 by financial year 
			  Percentage of samples testing positive 
			 1995-96 31.7 
			 1996-97 24.4 
			 1997-98 20.8 
			 1998-99 18.1 
			 1999-2000 14.4 
			 2000-01 12.2 
			 2001-02 11.5 
			 2002-03 11.7 
			 2003-04 12.5 
			 2004-05 11.8 
			 2005-06 10.3 
			 2006-07 8.8 
			 2007-08 9.1 
			 2008-09 7.7 
			 2009-10 7.8 
		
	
	From 1 April 2009 buprenorphine was added to the standard panel of drugs tested for under MDT. This explains the slight increase in overall positive rates in 2009-10.
	Data for 2010-11 will be published in July 2011 as part of the National Offender Management Service annual report for 2010-11.
	These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Prisoners: Training

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has allocated to employment and learning services for prisoners in each year of the comprehensive spending review period; and how much funding his Department and its predecessors allocated for such purposes in each year between 1995 and 2010.

Crispin Blunt: Education services for prisoners(1) are funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), devolved to the Skills Funding Agency, formerly the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).
	(1) Offenders aged 18 and over.
	The Learning and Skills Council assumed responsibility for planning and funding the integrated Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) in England on 31 July 2006. OLASS funds the delivery of skills for offenders (aged 18 and over) held in English Public Sector prisons for both sentenced prisoners and those held on remand.
	In Wales, from April 2006, commissioning responsibilities for offender learning and skills provision became the responsibility of Director of Offender Management in Wales. Responsibilities for learning and skills provision for those in custody in Wales transferred to the Welsh Assembly Government with effect from 1 April 2009.
	Data are available on spend since 2001. Table 1 includes spend directly relating to the OLASS provision and also spend associated with the employment of Heads of Learning and Skills in prisons, Libraries and Higher Education in public sector prisons in England and Wales:
	
		
			 Table 1 
			  Total spend (£ million) 
			 2001-02 57 
			 2002-03 73 
			 2003-04 116 
			 2004-05 126 
			 2005-06 151 
			 2006-07 156 
			 2007-08 161 
			 2008-09 171 
			 2009-10 181 
		
	
	Over the comprehensive spending review (CSR) period, allocations are as follows:
	Table 2 includes spend directly relating to the OLASS provision and also spend associated with the employment of Heads of Learning and Skills in prisons, Libraries and Higher Education in public sector prisons in England and Wales:
	
		
			 Table 2 
			 £ million 
			  Total spend in England Total s  pend in Wales—funded by the Welsh Government 
			 2010-11 171 2.3 
			 2011-12 172 2.4 
			 2012-13 (1)170 (1)2.4 
			 (1) Indicative. 
		
	
	Allocations beyond 2012-13 have yet to be confirmed.
	£34 million of the growth between 2005-06 and 2010-11 (inclusive) was as a result of additional education allocations to support the places flowing from the prison capacity programme.
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) provides both physical resources and staff to support educational activities and employment support for prisoners. Some employment support is delivered in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions. It is not possible to separately identify these costs which are not held centrally.
	Training for prisoners is undertaken, mainly by Prison Service staff, while prisoners work or are engaged in various areas such as prison industries, catering, physical education, land based activities, industrial cleaning and laundries. The central costs of the training elements of these, mainly production functions, are not kept centrally.
	NOMS gained co-financing organisation status in January 2009 and successfully bid for a total of £50 million of European Social Funding to enhance the skills and employment services to offenders in prison and the community. NOMS has been granted the funding over 27 months to increase offenders' employability and improve their access to mainstream support provision. Funding has been extended into a second phase up to 2013.

Prisons: Drugs

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has allocated to tackle drug addiction on the prison estate in each year of the comprehensive spending review period; and how much funding his Department and its predecessors allocated for such purposes in each year since 1995.

Crispin Blunt: From April 2011, the Department of Health assumed responsibility for funding all drug treatment in prisons in England. They are providing £69.4 million(1) of prison funding previously allocated by the Ministry of Justice and £44.5 million from their Integrated Drug Treatment System (IDTS) budget in each of the three years of the comprehensive spending review period (2011-14).
	Drug treatment funding allocated to prisons from 1999-2000 to 2010-11 is shown in the following table. Information from 1995-99 is not centrally available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Funding allocated to prisons in England and Wales for drug treatment 
			  £ million 
			 1999-2000(2) 12.6 
			 2000-01 16.5 
			 2001-02 27.3 
			 2002-03 28.7 
			 2003-04 37.7 
		
	
	
		
			 2004-05 51.1 
			 2005-06 60.7 
			 2006-07 78.1 
			 2007-08 79.8 
			 2008-09(3) 67.8 
			 2009-10 69.6 
			 2010-11 71.4 
			 (1) This includes £63 million for adult prisons and £6.4 million for young people's secure settings. (2) Figures from 1999-2000 to 2007-08 include CARATs (Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare service), YPSMS (Young People's Substance Misuse Services) and intensive drug rehabilitation programmes as well as funding from the Department of Health for clinical interventions (detoxification and maintenance prescribing). (3) Figures from 2008-09 to 2010-11 exclude Department of Health funding for clinical interventions.

Probation Trusts

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much his Department and its predecessor spent on probation trusts in each year since 1995;
	(2)  what budget he has set for each probation trust in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Crispin Blunt: The information is as follows:
	Financial period 1995-96 to 2000-01
	Prior to 2001-02, local probation committees were financed partly by local government under a different financial regime. NOMS are therefore unable to answer this element of the question.
	Financial period 2001-02 to 2009-10
	Probation Trusts have only been in existence since April 2008, following the implementation of the Offender Management Act 2007.
	The following table has been compiled to illustrate the costs of probation boards/trusts over the 2001 to 2010 financial period using the annual net operating costs.
	
		
			 £  million 
			 Financial year Boards and Trusts expenditure Trusts included in expenditure 
			 2009-10 899 194 
			 2008-09 897 112 
			 2007-08 845 — 
			 2006-07 807 — 
			 2005-06 770 — 
			 2004-05 687 — 
			 2003-04 674 — 
			 2002-03 605 — 
			 2001-02 576 — 
			 Notes: 1. The figures for financial years 2001-02 to 2007-08 are the net operating costs recorded in the annual consolidated accounts of local probation boards. These accounts are available from the House Library.  2. The figures for 2008-09 and 2009-10 are taken from the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Agency annual accounts and supporting data.  3. Following standard accounting practice, local boards. and trusts. pension contributions are not fully reflected in the figures.  4. Expenditure on probation met centrally by the National Probation Directorate (as was) and the National Offender Management Service is not included in local areas’ expenditure.  5. Comparisons over time are difficult due to changes in accounting methodology. 
		
	
	Financial Year 2010-11
	Data for 2010-11 are not yet available as financial accounts for the 2010-11 have yet to be finalised.
	Comprehensive Spending Review Period Year 2011-12
	The following table sets out the contract values for financial year 2011-12 as agreed with each Probation Trust. These individual contract values may vary through the year but are as stated at the beginning of the financial year. There are some probation costs for specific offender related initiatives not embedded in the contracts and therefore excluded from the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			 Avon and Somerset 19,333,606 
			 Bedfordshire 8,961,763 
			 Cambridgeshire 9,477,363 
			 Cheshire 14,128,825 
			 Cumbria 8,044,553 
			 Derbyshire 12,660,000 
			 Devon and Cornwall 18,238,328 
			 Dorset 8,456,415 
			 Durham and Teesside 21,753,119 
			 Essex 18,606,086 
			 Gloucestershire 7,015,050 
			 Greater Manchester 47,931,520 
			 Hampshire 23,019,664 
			 Hertfordshire 10,909,353 
			 Humberside 15,730,000 
			 Kent 19,483,690 
			 Lancashire 23,061,088 
			 Leicestershire 14,020,000 
			 Lincolnshire 8,851,000 
			 London 137,512,000 
			 Merseyside 28,845,962 
			 Norfolk and Suffolk 19,101,436 
			 North Yorkshire 9,445,000 
			 Northamptonshire 8,642,000 
			 Northumbria 27,786,481 
			 Nottinghamshire 18,018,000 
			 South Yorkshire 23,589,000 
			 Staffs/West Midlands 68,626,000 
			 Surrey and Sussex 25,109,812 
			 Thames Valley 24,602,317 
			 Wales 52,297,000 
			 Warwickshire 6,562,000 
			 West Mercia 14,336,000 
			 West Yorkshire 38,385,000 
			 Wiltshire 6,932,312 
			 Total 819,471,743 
		
	
	Comprehensive Spending Review Period: 2012 to 2015
	Given the demanding settlement the Department received we are continuing to finalise our savings plans for the remainder of the SR period, and as a result detailed budgets for individual trusts are not yet available.

Probation Trusts

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what output measures his Department will use to assess the performance of probation trusts over the comprehensive spending review period.

Crispin Blunt: Orders or Licences Successfully Completed, Employment at Termination and Accommodation at Termination are the output measures which currently form part of the data-driven performance assessment of probation trusts. These output indicators compliment a range of measures in the Probation Trust Rating System (PTRS), including the key outcome Reducing Reoffending, quality measures from HMI Probation and engagement indicators such as Offender Feedback and Victim Feedback.
	In addition to the measures in the formal performance assessment, the probation contracts contain a number of targeted output measures including Sustained Employment, Education Awards, Sex Offender Treatment Programmes Completions, Domestic Violence Completions, Offending Behaviour Programme Completions, Drug Rehabilitation Requirement Completions, Alcohol Treatment Requirement Completions and Community Payback Completions among other measures used for assurance purposes.
	There is an annual cycle of review on measures, targets and the contents of the PTRS model. In line with this Government's policy direction the review is focused to be less prescriptive with the aim of reducing the burden of data collection on the front line. The introduction of Payment By Results (PBR) will be reflected in the future performance framework.

Rehabilitation and Treatment of Offenders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding for the rehabilitation and treatment of offenders was contributed to his Department's programme by the (a) Department for Education and its predecessors, (b) Department of Health, (c) Department for Work and Pensions and its predecessors and (d) Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its predecessors in each year since 1995.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice does not hold information on the contribution by other Government Departments for the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders. It does hold information on income received from the Departments specified, but this may not be for rehabilitation or treatment and would only be part of the funding by those Departments. Most of the funding by those Departments will be made to service providers outside of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) who provide services to offenders on behalf of their respective Departments.

Remand in Custody

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people held on remand in 2010 (a) were subsequently acquitted, (b) received a community sentence and (c) received a custodial sentence.

Crispin Blunt: Defendants remanded at the magistrates and Crown courts, and outcome of proceedings in 2010, can be viewed in the tables as follows.
	
		
			 Defendants remanded in custody by magistrates and outcome of proceedings  (1)  , 2010  (2)  , England and Wales 
			 Outcome Remanded in custody by magistrates  (3) 
			 Acquitted or not proceeded etc. 7.2 
			   
			 Convicted:  
			 Discharge 1.5 
			 Fine 2.3 
			 Community sentence(4) 3.7 
			 Suspended sentence 1.7 
		
	
	
		
			 Immediate custody(5) 8.5 
			 Otherwise dealt with(6) 1.7 
			 Total number sentenced 19.4 
			   
			 Committed for sentence:  
			 on bail 0.5 
			 in custody 5.1 
			   
			 Committed for trial:  
			 on bail 2.6 
			 in custody 22.9 
			 Total 58.3 
			 (1 )Committal cases where the remand status is not recorded are excluded from the breakdown, but included in the totals. (2) Data for 2010 are estimated. (3 )Includes those remanded for part of the time in custody and part on bail. (4 )Includes community rehabilitation orders, supervision orders, community punishment orders, attendance centre orders, community punishment and rehabilitation orders, curfew orders, reparation orders, action plan orders and detention and training orders. (5 )Includes detention and training orders and unsuspended imprisonment. (6 )Includes one day in police cells, disqualification order, restraining order, confiscation order, travel restriction order, disqualification from driving, ASBO and recommendation for deportation and other disposals. Note:  Some figures may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	
		
			 Defendants remanded at the Crown court  (1)   before trial or sentence, and outcome of proceedings, 2010, England and Wales 
			  Remanded in custody  (2) 
			 Outcome Committed for trial Committed for sentence 
			 Acquitted or not proceeded etc. 4.7 0.0 
			    
			 Convicted:   
			 Discharge 0.2 0.0 
			 Fine 0.0 0.0 
			 Community sentence(3) 2.0 0.7 
			 Fully suspended sentence 1.9 0.8 
			 Immediate custody(4) 25.9 5.5 
			 Otherwise dealt with(5) 0.7 0.3 
			    
			 Total number sentenced 30.7 7.4 
			 Failed to appear 0.2 0.0 
			 Total 35.6 7.4 
			 (1) Crown court cases are not necessarily concluded in the same year as the committal. (2) Includes those remanded for part of the time in custody and part on bail. (3 )Community rehabilitation orders, supervision orders, community punishment orders, attendance centre orders, community punishment and rehabilitation orders, curfew orders, reparation orders, action plan orders and drug treatment and testing orders. (4 )Includes detention in a young offender institution, detention and training orders and unsuspended imprisonment. (5 )Includes one day in police cells, disqualification order, restraining order, confiscation order, travel restriction order, disqualification from driving, ASBO and recommendation for deportation and other disposals. Note:  Some figures may not sum due to rounding. Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Young Offenders

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for future provision for young adult offenders aged (a) 18 to 21 and (b) 18 to 24 following the implementation of proposed changes to the functions of the Youth Justice Board.

Crispin Blunt: The Government have decided to abolish the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and deliver its main functions from a newly created youth justice division within the Ministry of Justice. These functions include the oversight of youth offending teams, disseminating effective practice, commissioning a distinct secure estate and placing young people in custody. The YJB is responsible for offenders aged under 18 so its abolition will not impact on provision for young adult offenders.

Young Offenders: Alternatives to Prison

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2011, Official Report, column 1362W, on young offenders: alternatives to prison, if he will place in the Library a copy of the interim process evaluations of the Intensive Alternative to Custody pilot schemes in (a) Dyfed-Powys, (b) Humberside, (c) Merseyside, (d) South Wales and (e) West Yorkshire;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2011, Official Report, column 1362W, on young offenders: alternatives to prison, which of the probation trusts which were piloting the Intensive Alternative to Custody prior to 31 March 2011 have now made that provision mainstream;
	(3)  what the name is of each pilot of intensive community orders in England and Wales; when he expects each to come to an end; and when he expects to have evaluated the findings from each pilot.

Crispin Blunt: The Intensive Alternative to Custody (IAC) pilot schemes in Dyfed-Powys, Humberside, Merseyside, South Wales and West Yorkshire were evaluated together. There was no formal interim evaluation. The final report of the five-area process evaluation is currently being prepared for publication.
	In respect of the probation trusts which were piloting the IAC schemes before 31 March 2011 I can provide the following update about whether the provision of IAC has been mainstreamed:
	the Wales Probation Trust has mainstreamed IAC provision across Wales;
	Manchester Probation Trust has mainstreamed IAC provision in Manchester and Salford;
	Humberside Probation Trust has mainstreamed IAC across all the adult court sites in Humberside;
	Merseyside Probation Trust continues to offer IAC in Liverpool and there are plans to expand provision during the next year;
	in Derbyshire, learning from the IAC pilot has been used to develop an Intensive Community order (ICO), which has been offered to courts across Derbyshire from May 2011 as a sentencing option targeted at those offenders at risk of being sentenced to short custodial terms; and
	West Yorkshire Probation Trust has continued to offer IAC in Bradford and Leeds, and is planning to mainstream IAC across all the remaining three districts in West Yorkshire: Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.
	The name of the Intensive Alternative to Custody pilots were as follows:
	Manchester IAC;
	Merseyside IAC;
	West Yorkshire IAC;
	Humberside IAC;
	Wales IAC (although these were initially called Intensive Supervision and Control (ISAC)); and
	Derbyshire IAC (now re-branded as Intensive Community Order (ICO)).
	All IAC pilot schemes came to an end in March 2011.
	The five area pilot process evaluation and findings from the Derbyshire and Manchester IAC pilot schemes are being prepared for publication. A summary of general findings across all seven of these IAC pilots is to be published in July.
	The MOJ are exploring the possibility of conducting an evaluation of the IAC pilots which will compare reoffending rates for all IAC offenders with reoffending rates for similar offenders receiving custodial sentences of less than 12 months.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 216W, on apprenticeships, how many employer places are registered on the National Apprenticeship Service matching service; and how many applicants have been deemed unsuitable for places.

John Hayes: Apprenticeship vacancies (on line system) data show that employers posted 58,870 apprenticeship vacancies between 1 August 2010 and 31 May. There were 9,500 live apprenticeship vacancies as at 1 June. Information on the number of applicants deemed unsuitable for an apprenticeship vacancy is not available.
	Apprenticeship vacancy reports are updated on a monthly basis and published on the fourth day of each calendar month at the following link:
	http://mireportslibrary.thedataservice.org.uk/apprenticeships/apprenticeship_vacancy_reports/
	Data provided in the answer of 7 June, Official Report, column 216W, has been updated and is provided in the following tables covering the same time period as the above information. Table 1 shows the number of individuals who have activated their account on the system between August 2010 and May 2011. Table 2 shows the overall number of applications submitted between August 2010 and May 2011.
	
		
			 Table 1: Total number of individuals activating their account on Apprenticeship Vacancies, August 2010 to May 2011 
			  Individuals activating Apprenticeship Vacancy Account 
			 16-18 185,130 
			 19-24 118,520 
			 25+ 51,110 
			 Total 354,760 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Total number of Programme Applications made by age group, August 2010 to May 2011 
			  Total number of Programme Applications 
			 16-18 313,660 
			 19-24 152,710 
			 25+ 24,680 
			 Total 491,050 
			 Notes: 1. Figures for programme applications do not indicate individuals who have made applications, they are the total number of applications made and it is important to note that any one individual can make more than one application at any given time. 2. Figures in table 1 are the latest year to date data, from 1 August 2010 up to 30 April. 3. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Apprenticeship Vacancy Reports 
		
	
	Apprenticeship places are secured through a range of sources. Between August 2010 and January 2011 there were 213,400(1) apprenticeship starts in England.
	(1) Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 March:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statistical firstrelease/sfr_current

Banks: Loans

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  whether HSBC Holdings plc are subject to the Project Merlin agreement that bankers' remuneration would be linked to lending targets;
	(2)  who signed the Project Merlin agreement on behalf of the banks;
	(3)  which individuals are subject to the Project Merlin agreement that bankers' remuneration would be linked to lending targets.

Mark Prisk: The Merlin commitment to lending has been made by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Santander.
	Lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be part of the performance metrics of each bank's chief executive and those of the senior managers responsible for business lending.
	The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has written to each of the bank's chairman to ask them to explain clearly how their incentives for senior managers are linked to SME lending.

Business

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people representing small and medium-sized businesses located in (a) the UK, (b) Staffordshire and (c) Tamworth constituency (i) he, (ii) Ministers in his Department and (iii) officials in his Department have met in the last 12 months.

Mark Prisk: BIS Ministers and officials regularly engage with organisations and individuals representing small and medium sized enterprises from across the UK. This includes regular meetings of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and the Small Business Economic Forum, which I chair. All meetings that BIS Ministers have with external organisations are published quarterly at
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
	with data currently available up until December 2010.
	As the lead on local enterprise partnership (LEPs) policy, I am meeting all LEPs which include representatives of small and medium sized businesses across England. To date I have met with 21 partnerships and am due to meet with the Stoke and Staffordshire LEP at the beginning of July. BIS Local West Midlands also have regular engagement with representatives of small and medium businesses in Staffordshire as part of their day to day working.

Business: Industrial Health and Safety

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the administrative requirements on businesses arising from health and safety legislation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the administrative burden of health and safety regulations on the priority given by businesses to (a) compliance with legislation and (b) the implementation of effective health and safety measures; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if his Department will assess the merits of implementing the recommendation of the Davidson Review that the Health and Safety Executive should exempt the self-employed from certain health and safety legislation in low-risk sectors.

Mark Prisk: The Department has an established working relationship with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and I am delighted that this Government is implementing the recommendations from Lord Young's recent review of HSE in the UK. As these questions suggest, there are a number of ideas in circulation about how the UK's HSE regime could be still further improved in ways that reduce the costs and burdens to business. I will be very interested to see the impact of proposals developed by the Ministry of Justice to tackle the “litigation culture”, in the wake of Lord Justice Jackson's consideration of the “no win, no fee” conditional fee arrangements (November 2010). In addition, there is a current independent review commissioned by the Minister for Employment my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) of HSE legislation which is being undertaken by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt, Director of the Centre for Risk Management at King's College, London. I also look forward to hearing the views of business and other stakeholders when the Red Tape Challenge turns its attention to HSE at the end of June.

Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to (a) including in the Green Economy Roadmap a commitment to (i) measure and (ii) reduce the UK's total carbon footprint and (b) the reckoning in the calculation of that footprint of (A) emissions from consumption and (B) outsourced emissions embedded in imports.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 7 June 2011
	The Green Economy Roadmap is designed to provide businesses with clarity about the transition to a lower carbon economy and how it affects them; it is not the appropriate vehicle for assessing the UK's total carbon footprint or weighting contributions to that footprint. The Government will continue to monitor emissions according to current standards.

Companies: North West

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value is of financial support received by companies in the North West through the Regional Growth Fund.

Mark Prisk: Details of bids from round 1 of the Regional Growth Fund and conditional offers made, remain commercially confidential until the process of due diligence is completed.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress his Department has made in encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts.

Mark Prisk: The Department is committed to supporting the Government-wide initiatives set out at the small and medium enterprises (SME) strategic supplier summit on 11 February 2011, notably the launch of Contracts Finder the Government portal for tendering opportunities over £10,000. The portal is entirely free, online service enabling small businesses to search for, and receive free email alerts of public sector contract opportunities. The full list of measures can be found on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/government-opens-contracts-small-business.
	In addition to working to implement these initiatives, BIS has agreed with Cabinet Office a further set of actions - such as providing notification of its tendering requirements in advance by use of a Prior Information Notice for Official Journal of the European Union procurements or similar to provide a greater degree of notice to the market, enabling SMEs to be better placed to bid for government contracts. Full details are available at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/about/procurement
	To help small businesses build skills and capacity and support SMEs access public procurement opportunities, BIS has designed (with input from across both the public and private sectors) a free on-line public procurement training course ‘Winning the Contract’ available on the businesslink website at:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk/winningthecontract.
	Additionally, following the closure of the previous Government procurement portal “Supply2.gov”, and to enable small businesses to freely download, analyse and gain a better understanding of what, and how Government buys, BIS has made available all Government historical contract data (published on the site, from 2006 to 2011), on its transparency page at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/supply2gov.

Education: Carers

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with carers organisations on steps to ensure that carers receive equal opportunities to access further or higher education by (a) part-time and (b) full-time mode; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: This Government have been very clear about the importance of widening participation and improving access to further and higher education. Adult carers have been given consideration as part of the enhancements to adult learner support for students in further education. Representative bodies were invited to discussions earlier this year to help formulate the policy. Carers are eligible to apply for learner support funds as appropriate and this will remain the case for 2011-12.
	In higher education we are establishing a new framework, with increased responsibility on universities to widen participation. Higher education institutions will be encouraged to identify candidates with the ability and potential to succeed, offering those that might need extra support the appropriate assistance. For full-time students in higher education a comprehensive package of grants and loans is available through the student finance system, with extra support for students with adult or child dependants in the form of an Adult Dependants' Grant, Childcare Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance. From 2012/13 eligible new part-time students will not pay upfront tuition charges and will be able to access loans in order to pay for their tuition, as is the case for full-time students.

EU Law

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what EU directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what EU directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 17 June 2011
	The stock of EU legislation in force is set out in the Eur-Lex database:
	http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
	It would be of disproportionate cost to review the entire stock to establish which pieces of legislation were currently the responsibility of BIS or its predecessor Departments.
	There are a number of directives, which have come into force since 1 April 2010, for which the Department has responsibility. The directives are of varying natures and implications and I will write separately providing a detailed list.

EU Law: Economic Growth

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria he plans to use to assess any recommendations resulting from the work with Government undertaken by GSK, Balfour Beatty, Kingfisher and Tribeka Limited to consider the effect of EU legislation on UK growth opportunities.

Mark Prisk: As announced in Budget 2011, the Government are working with four companies, Balfour Beatty, GSK, Kingfisher and Tribeka Ltd, to find ways to improve European growth opportunities for UK businesses. All four companies will have the opportunity to contribute equally to this work and each company will be given equal weight.
	Central to the Government's assessment of specific contributions will be the extent to which they illustrate opportunities and problems for the wider sector from which they are drawn so that the evidence provided can be used for the broadest possible positive impact on the UK economy.

Fees and Charges: Students

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of the legal advice his Department has received on the entitlements of EU students to (a) fee waivers, (b) fee discounts and (c) the National Scholarship Programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Legal advice obtained by the Department is confidential and the subject of legal professional privilege.
	It will be for universities themselves, as autonomous institutions, to obtain their own legal advice to ensure that their provision in respect of fee waivers and fee discounts conforms to current legislation.

Foreign Students

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of British citizens who attended university in (a) EU countries and (b) the US in the last academic year for which figures are available.

David Willetts: In 2008, it is estimated that 24,750 UK students were enrolled at institutions outside the UK, and studying for a degree awarded by an overseas institution. Of these, an estimated 10,250 UK students were studying in EU-27 countries, and 8,400 were estimated to be studying in the USA. These figures exclude students who undertake short-term exchange programmes as part of their UK degree.
	Source
	OECD online database and Eurostat online database.
	Please note, there is no common basis for the collection of data on ‘foreign/mobile’ students—countries use one or more of the following classification criteria:
	citizenship;
	usual/permanent residence; and
	country of prior education.
	Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses but they will give different results in each country, so the figures quoted above need to be treated with caution. BIS-commissioned research concluded that OECD data tend to over-estimate the true number of diploma-mobile students by up to 10%.

Green Investment Bank

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings he has had with representatives of potential locations on the proposed location of the Green Investment Bank.

Mark Prisk: I have met with the Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore) on 5 April and representatives from the Edinburgh Green Investment Bank Group on 30 March both at their request.

Higher Education: Admissions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2011, Official Report, columns 645-46W, on higher education: admissions, how many UK-domiciled full-time first degree qualifiers at UK higher education institutions who previously attended (i) maintained schools and (ii) sixth-form colleges achieved each degree classification in the academic year 2009-10.

David Willetts: holding answer 16 June 2011
	: Data on previous school type are available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and cover state schools, independent schools, FE institutions, HE institutions and those with unknown or missing information. They do not identify separately those who attended maintained schools and sixth-form colleges.

Higher Education: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the use of the Working Definition of anti-Semitism; whether he has had recent discussions with universities on the definition; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(2)  what definition of anti-Semitism his Department uses; what recent discussions he has had with the Jewish community on its definition since May 2010; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(3)  whether (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had recent discussions with the Union of Jewish Students; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(4)  what recent representations he has received from the Union of Jewish Students; what response his Department gave to such representations; and if he will make a statement. [R]

David Willetts: The Department does not hold information about the use of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) working definition of anti-Semitism. It is public knowledge that it has been adopted by the National Union of Students. We have not held discussions with universities about definitions of anti-Semitism, or about any specific definition used by the Department with the Jewish community.
	The UK Government currently uses the Macpherson definition of a racist incident which is an incident that is perceived as racist by the victim or any other person, and this would include anti-Semitism.
	I met with the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) towards the end of last year, alongside the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) (as the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism), the Community Security Trust and Higher Education (HE) sector bodies such as Universities UK (UUK) and the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) to discuss the experiences of Jewish students in HE. My officials have met with the UJS to discuss the Prevent strategy, and the recent motion concerning the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC, now the FRA) working definition of anti-Semitism agreed at the University and College Union's annual congress.
	The Government's position is clear, anti-Semitism and intolerance have no place in our society and no place in higher education. Staff and students from all backgrounds, cultures and communities must be welcome in our higher education sector.
	The UK has in place one of the strongest legislative frameworks to protect people from harassment and abuse, and specifically racial or religious persecution. This framework provides protection to Jewish people alongside other ethnic and religious groups. As independent organisations, higher education institutions are directly accountable for compliance with the law and hold the primary responsibility for ensuring that their staff and students are not subject to threatening or abusive behaviour on campus.
	In addition to legal requirements, institutions have access to a range of practical guidance to help them ensure fair treatment of their staff and students, and to help them deal effectively with instances of intolerance, racism and harassment in their institutions.
	The Government would expect institutions to vigorously tackle intolerance on campus when it arises.

Intellectual Property

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what date the Intellectual Property Office will publish the findings of its consultation on patent infringement in pharmaceutical clinical and field trials; and when the Government plan to respond to any recommendations made.

Edward Davey: There is little I can add to my previous answer on this subject given on 10 June 2011, Official Report, columns 517-18W. The Government do not plan a separate response to any recommendations arising from the Intellectual Property Office's consultation since those recommendations will be cleared with Ministers in the usual way. Publication of the findings will take place either at the same time as the recommendations or earlier if possible.

Mary Portas

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  whether Mary Portas will receive remuneration from his Department for her work on the high street retail review;
	(2)  what remuneration Mary Portas will receive for leading the independent review on the future of the high street.

Mark Prisk: Mary Portas is not being paid for her work on this review.

North Sea Oil

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2011, Official Report, column 1348W, on North Sea oil, on what dates prior to the Budget Statement of 23 March 2011 meetings took place between Ministers in his Department and Ministers in the Treasury on the implications for investment in North Sea oil and gas fields of changes to taxation.

Mark Prisk: Nothing has changed since my answer of 12 May 2011, Official Report, column 1348W.

North Sea Oil

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2011, Official Report, column 1349W, on North sea oil, on what dates prior to the Budget Statement of 23 March 2011 meetings took place between Ministers in his Department and Ministers in the Department of Energy and Climate Change on the implications for investment in North Sea oil and gas fields of changes to taxation.

Mark Prisk: Nothing has changed since my answer of 12 May 2011, Official Report, column 1349W.

One North East

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) land and (b) other assets will be transferred from One North East to the Homes and Communities Agency in each local authority area in the North East.

Mark Prisk: BIS is currently working with the Department for Communities and Local Government and others to agree arrangements to manage some regional development agency land and property assets. No decisions have yet been made, we hope to make an announcement soon. We aim wherever possible to protect the intended economic and regeneration benefits to local areas of developing these assets, and allow local partners to influence the way they are developed.

PA Consulting

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether UK Trade & Investment has set any objectives for PA Consulting to reach in respect of direct investment in each region.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 9 June 2011
	UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) contracted in March 2011 with PA Consulting (PA) for the delivery of services to support foreign direct investment into the UK. That contract contains targets for PA for the quantity and quality of successful investment projects into the UK that they support.
	UKTI has not set specific objectives for PA in terms of regional dispersal of investment projects. However, UKTI is committed with PA to monitoring new investments against the broad regional profile of previous years. Should significant disparity with previous investment levels in any UK region/devolved Administration arise, UKTI will assess the reasons, and take action as necessary. Close dialogue with local partners (including local enterprise partnerships and devolved Administrations) will be an important part of this assessment process.

Press: Competition

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on consumer interests of present arrangements for the regulation of the newspaper and magazine distribution industry.

Edward Vaizey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Secretary of State has made no assessment. Competition matters relating to the effects on consumer interests from the distribution arrangements covering the newspaper and magazine industry fall to the Office of Fair Trading.

Trade Agreements

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on non-tariff barriers in the negotiation of free trade agreements.

Edward Davey: holding answer 17 June 2011
	Eliminating non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade and, as far as possible, preventing the establishment of new NTBs, is a key UK objective in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. We agreed annexes to address NTBs in the EU-South Korea FTA, and we are pressing hard for NTBs to be tackled in other FTAs, including the EU-lndia FTA where addressing NTBs in the automobile sector is a particular priority.

Trade Agreements

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate (a) the cost to UK manufacturers and (b) the effects on levels of growth of non-tariff barriers in free trade agreements with (i) India, (ii) South Korea and (iii) Japan.

Edward Davey: holding answer 17 June 201 1 
	The benefits to the EU from tackling non-tariff barriers (NTBs) in free trade agreements (FTAs) can be substantial but in all trade deals there will be some adjustment costs. For the EU-South Korea, the elimination of NTBs in the final agreement was the major factor behind the anticipated gains increasing from €19 billion (in earlier estimates) to €33 billion. Negotiations on the EU-India FTA are ongoing, and negotiations with Japan are yet to be launched. In both, the reduction of NTBs will be a key UK objective.

Trade Agreements

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what industry organisations he consulted prior to the signing of each UK and EU free trade agreement made since 12 May 2010.

Edward Davey: holding answer 17 June 2011
	For all fair trade agreement (FTA) negotiations the Department regularly consults with a wide range of business stakeholders to update them on the status of negotiations, and to make sure that we understand their concerns and priorities. We consulted businesses and business federations throughout the negotiations of the EU-South Korea FTA and in the lead up to signature in September 2010.

Trade Agreements: EU External Trade

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to prepare the removal of non-tariff barriers when negotiating EU free trade agreements.

Edward Davey: holding answer 17 June 2011
	In all free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, the UK undertakes its own analysis and consults widely with business stakeholders to ensure that we identify and prioritise those issues, including non-tariff barriers, which matter most to UK business. Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) have formed a key part of the market opening of the EU FTAs with developed countries such as EU-South Korea. The removal of NTBs in EU is very much in our interests to improve the functioning of the single market, which is our largest export market.

Trade Agreements: EU External Trade

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of non-tariff barriers on the competitiveness of UK companies in relation to the countries with which the EU has free trade agreements.

Edward Davey: holding answer 17 June 2011
	Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) can be a more significant barrier to trade than tariffs, especially for trade between developed countries. For this reason, the EU and the UK prioritise the elimination of NTBs in free trade agreements (FTAs). For the EU-South Korea, the elimination of NTBs in the final agreement was the major factor behind the anticipated gains increasing from €19 billion (in earlier estimates) to €33 billion to the EU.

UK Trade and Investment: Expenditure

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value of investment by UK Trade and Investment has been in respect of (a) North Yorkshire, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber, (c) England and (d) the UK since May 2010.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 16 June 2011
	Companies investing in the UK are not required to disclose the value of their investments to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). UKTI records the number of foreign direct investment projects entering the UK each year. The inward investment results for the UK, including North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber and England, for the financial year 2010/11 will be announced on 11 July 2011.

UK Trade and Investment: Manpower

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK Trade and Investment staff are (a) based in and (b) dedicated to each region of England.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 16 June 2011
	People working for UKTI are either employees of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or from the private sector through our contracted out delivery arrangements. In the English regions there are 58 civil servants and 299 private sector employees. The following table sets out the number of people based in and dedicated to each region.
	
		
			 Region Number of people (May 2011) 
			 East of England 38 
			 East Midlands 36 
			 London 44 
			 North East 26 
			 North West 29 
			 South East 52 
			 South West 44 
			 West Midlands 56 
			 Yorkshire & Humber 32 
			 Total 357

UK Trade and Investment: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many inquiries UK Trade and Investment received in relation to (a) investment, (b) general help and advice and (c) help and advice relating to exporting from businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber in the financial year 2010-11.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 16 June 2011
	The UK Trade & Investment Inquiry Service received 24,476 trade and investment inquiries by telephone and e-mail in 2010-11. The Inquiry Service do not record where an inquiry originates.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Change

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate of average global temperature his Department and its predecessors used when considering policies on climate change in each of the last 15 years.

Gregory Barker: During the past 15 years, DECC and its predecessors have taken note of the annual global average surface temperature estimates made by the UK Met Office and Climatic Research Unit, and NASA and NOAA in the United States. These have been published in various journals and assessed by the IPCC and other scientific bodies.
	During this period all these analyses show yearly and short term temperature fluctuations, which are due to natural variations in the climate system, and a continuing underlying upward trend in global temperatures. It is the long-term upward trend in the temperature record that is the main reason for concern over climate change.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has plans to generate low-carbon energy from its estate.

Gregory Barker: The Department has a very small estate and has authority over only two buildings, 3 Whitehall Place and 55 Whitehall in London. As part of our strategy for reducing the carbon emissions from our estate and operations, we have plans to explore the feasibility of generating low carbon energy at these buildings.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress his Department has made in encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has introduced the following policies to encourage small and medium sized entities (SMEs) to bid for its contracts:
	Disclosure of more information about public procurement opportunities, including information about major projects in the pipeline for small businesses and social enterprises to view. The Department’s contracts with a value of over £10,000 are now published in full online and free of charge through the procurement web-portal “Contracts Finder”.
	For all procurements under the EU threshold, the Department has eliminated pre- qualification questionnaires which may previously have deterred or ruled out SMEs from bidding.
	The Department is now recording separately business transacted with SMEs. This will help target actions to increase the level of contracts awarded to SMEs and monitor the effectiveness of those actions .
	The Department encourages early supplier involvement, where possible through bidders’ conferences, in order to promote wider market engagement at the pre- procurement stage.
	The Department encourages innovation in contract specifications and, where appropriate, innovation is included as part of the evaluation criteria of tender exercises. This helps encourage the smaller enterprises that tend to operate in the energy innovation field.

Electric Cables

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with Ofgem on provisions to minimise the visual impact of overhead power lines on landscapes.

Charles Hendry: To date, engagement by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) with Ofgem on the visual impact of overhead power lines has been at official level as part of Ofgem's next transmission price control review (RIIO-T1). This has involved bilateral discussions, correspondence and participation at stakeholder events such as the Price Control Review Forum and RIIO Working Groups. Where new and replacement pylons are required, DECC is keen to support the development of the most visually acceptable overhead solutions. The Royal Institute of British Architects is therefore running a competition on behalf of DECC and National Grid that calls for designs for a new generation of pylon. A key element to the competition will be a public consultation exercise in September which will provide members of the public with a chance to comment on the best designs. Further details are available from:
	http://www.ribapylondesign.com/

Energy

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will establish a public inquiry into transparency in the energy market and the merits of introducing an enforceable requirement for clarity at each stage.

Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 June 2011, Official Report, column 892W.

Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to implement the provisions on general permitted development rights of the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009.

Gregory Barker: A statutory instrument will be laid before Parliament shortly to prepare the way for new permitted development rights for the domestic installations of micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps as the Green Energy (Definition and Promotions) Act 2009 requires. I will continue to work with colleagues at the Department for Communities and Local Government on this.

Energy: Conservation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether permanent energy efficiency saving schemes will be eligible to receive support from the Capacity Mechanism.

Charles Hendry: The Government are committed to encouraging and incentivising energy efficiency within the home, and in the public and private sectors, and have a range of policies in place to achieve this including current measures such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Saving Programmes (CESP), and future measures such as the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
	DECC is currently developing a White Paper which will set out proposals for Electricity Market Reform (EMR), including the proposed Capacity Mechanism. We recognise that demand side measures have an important contribution to make in supporting the transition to a low-carbon generating mix and ensuring security of supply. A key element of that is to consider how to ensure our policies on security of supply incentivise demand side measures where it can deliver energy security in the most cost effective way.
	We are considering views raised in response to the EMR consultation on demand-side issues in development of the White Paper, which we intend to publish before the summer recess.

Energy: Finance

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding from the public purse his Department allocated to each energy sector in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: Budgets for 2011-12 have been allocated to energy sectors as follows:
	
		
			 Sector Expenditure (£ million) 
			 Nuclear 44 
			 Renewables 15 
			 Oil and Gas 13 
			 Carbon Capture and Storage 12 
			 Other Low Carbon 70 
			 Historical Energy Liabilities (nuclear and coal) 2,355 
		
	
	This represents 78% of the total budget for 2011-12 of £3.0 billion. The remaining budget will mainly be spent on combating fuel poverty in the UK, programmes to improve energy efficiency and international energy and climate change issues.

Energy: Private Rented Housing

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2011, Official Report, column 580W, on energy: private rented housing, which organisations representing tenants are feeding into one of the Government's four industry-led forums for the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: A number of organisations representing tenants, whether as their sole focus or under a broad remit of representing consumers, feed into the Green Deal forums and associated sub-groups: The National Organisation of Residents’ Associations, North West Tenants and Residents Assembly, Shelter, National Union of Students, Consumer Focus, Citizens Advice, Age UK, and Which?.

Microgeneration

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which of the microgeneration technologies eligible for (a) feed-in tariffs and (b) the Renewable Heat Incentive have been subject to formal life cycle analysis.

Gregory Barker: There is a wide body of research into the lifecycle performance of technologies supported by both feed-in tariffs and the renewable heat incentive. For example, two UK specific studies estimate average carbon footprints of 88 gCO2eq/kWh for domestic solar photovoltaics and 68gCO2eq/kWh for 600W micro-wind(1). Carbon footprints for such systems have been falling due to efficiency improvements in their production. For comparison, another UK study estimates a carbon footprint of 488 gCO2eq/kWh for electricity from a combined cycle gas turbine(2).
	In practice, life cycle carbon and energy footprints will vary between installations, depending for example on the suitability of the site and the impact of this on performance.
	(1 )Allen SR et al, 2008, Proc ICE: Energy, 161, 73-86 and Allen SR & Hammond GP, 2010, Energy, 35,2223-2234.
	(2 )Odeh N & Cockerill TT, 2008, Energy Policy, 36, 367-80.

Nuclear Power

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 108W, on nuclear power, when he expects to publish his conclusions on the consultation on proposed changes to the Paris Convention and Brussels Supplementary Convention on nuclear third party liability.

Charles Hendry: The consultation on the changes to the Paris Convention and Brussels Supplementary Convention on nuclear third party liability ran from 24 January to 28 April. Officials are now reviewing the responses received.
	We intend to publish a summary of responses and a Government response later this year.

Nuclear Power Stations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what account he has taken of the risk of natural disasters in his plans for new nuclear power stations.

Charles Hendry: Companies operating or intending to operate nuclear power stations must make safety assessments, which are assessed by the Office for Nuclear Regulation. The events that the operator must consider include flooding, seismic activity and extreme weather. The safety assessment should demonstrate that threats from external hazards are either removed, minimised or tolerated. This may be done by showing that safety related plant and equipment are designed to meet appropriate performance criteria against the postulated external hazard, and by the provision of safety systems which respond to mitigate the effects of the event.

Radioactive Waste

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, columns 112-3W, on radioactive waste, which prospective operators of new nuclear plants have expressed an interest in entering a radioactive waste transfer contract.

Charles Hendry: Three consortia—NNB Genco (EDF Energy, Centrica), Horizon Nuclear Power (RWE Npower, E.ON) and NuGeneration (Scottish and Southern Energy, GDF Suez, Ibedrola) have announced plans to build new nuclear power stations in the UK. DECC officials are in regular contact with the three consortia on a range of issues and this has included discussions relating to the possibility of entering into a waste transfer contract at some point in the future.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the take up of feed-in tariffs in (a) the UK and (b) Germany; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: Real time data on feed-in tariffs (FIT) uptake in the UK are available on Ofgem's website. DECC also publishes a monthly summary of these data on its website. The latest data relate to schemes confirmed onto the FITs scheme at the end of May 2011. The following table shows the latest figures and those for end of March 2011, which was the end of the first full year of the FITs scheme.
	
		
			 FIT uptake by technology 
			  End March 2011 End May 2011 
			 Technology Number Capacity (kW) Number Capacity (kW) 
			 Anaerobic digestion 3 1,766 4 3,926 
			 Hydro 205 9,866 214 11,911 
			 Photovoltaics 28,505 77,848 37,640 104,744 
			 Wind 1,329 18,917 1,465 20,326 
			 MicroCHP 98 98 138 139 
			 Total 30,140 108,494 39,461 141,047 
		
	
	The German feed-in tariff system is that country's primary renewable energy incentive scheme, covering all scales (whereas the renewables obligation is the UK's primary incentive for large-scale renewable electricity generation). It has been in operation since 2000, and up to 2009 it supported 45,677 MW of generation (German data are from the International Energy Agency, which collects information on renewable capacity from all member countries, and 2009 is the latest date for which data are available).

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on his decision to set new feed-in tariffs for small-scale low-carbon electricity.

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), has included Ministers in the Scottish and Welsh Assembly Governments, and their officials, in discussions leading up to the recent decision to introduce new tariffs following the fast track review of the feed-in tariffs. The FITs scheme does not apply in Northern Ireland.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to hold a comprehensive review of the feed-in tariff scheme.

Gregory Barker: On 7 February 2011, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), announced the start of the first comprehensive review of feed-in tariffs (FITs). This review is now under way and we are currently considering responses to a call for evidence on the review's scope which formed part of the recently concluded fast-track consultation on FITs. We are intending to consult on more detailed proposals in the summer.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether (a) the renewable heat incentive and (b) the renewable heat incentive premium payment will apply to new-build housing.

Gregory Barker: The Government plan to introduce support for households through phase two of the renewable heat incentive (RHI) in October 2012 alongside the Green Deal. We are currently looking at the eligibility criteria and considering whether new build properties should be supported and will consult on our proposals by the end of 2011.
	Details of the criteria for the renewable heat premium payment (RH PP) will be available shortly.

Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in (i) Scotland, (ii) South Lanarkshire and (iii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: From April 2010 the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has awarded 2% of its contracts, amounting to four contracts, to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Scotland. One of these businesses is based in Strathclyde so could be located in either the South Lanarkshire or the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.
	The data available from the Department's arm’s length bodies are about orders rather than contracts and show that:
	1) The Coal Authority has placed 1.5% of its orders with SMEs based in Scotland and 0.3% of its orders with SMEs based in Lanarkshire.
	2) The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) placed 1.5% of its orders with suppliers based in Scotland. The NDA is unable to determine whether the orders related to SMEs without incurring the disproportionate expense of examining all individual orders.

Solar Power

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of the number of solar farms with a generating capacity greater than one megawatt that will be installed and commissioned before 1 August 2011.

Gregory Barker: To date, Ofgem have not approved any applications from PV schemes with an installed capacity greater than 1 MW. However, from discussions with the industry I anticipate that some schemes of this size will be generating before 1 August 2011. DECC's current understanding is that the total capacity of such schemes could be around 40 MW.

Solar Power

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the UK's performance in developing solar photovoltaics.

Gregory Barker: In the first year of operation 28,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) installations were confirmed under the GB feed-in tariffs scheme, totalling over 77 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity. In the first two months of this financial year, close to a further 150 installations were completed per day.
	There are two UK-based manufacturers of PV panels: Romag and Sharp Solar.

Solar Power: Public Buildings

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's most recent estimate is of the number of (a) schools, (b) hospitals, (c) other public buildings and (d) community buildings that will be fitted with solar photovoltaic installations with a generating capacity between 50 and 100 kilowatts under the feed-in tariff scheme in the year after 1 August 2011.

Gregory Barker: The design of tariffs under the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme, as completed by the last Government, is based on the technology and generation capacity of the installation and not on generator type. Therefore, we do not currently have the information requested either for existing installations or future installations.
	As confirmed in the recent Government response to the fast-track review of the FITs scheme, the intention is that from 1 August 2011 a new tariff of 19.0p/kWh will apply to solar photovoltaic installations of between 50 and 150 kW. We consider that this will deliver a 5% internal rate of return for well located installations, which could include those on community buildings.